Dear readers,

    Have you ever tried dancing on your tippy toes, soaring across the stage effortlessly?

    Well, this week, I was able to see some wonderful dancers at the NYC finals of a national ballet competition. My favorite dance out of the ones I saw was an ensemble performance, or a group dance.

    The dance was set in a jungle-like natural habitat. The dancers exhibited a multitude of expressions throughout. Sometimes, they looked fierce and passionate; at others, they were caring and protective of each other. The choreography reminded me of tribes fighting to survive the dangerous wild, but also thoroughly embracing the gifts of nature in the process.

    There were over 30 dancers, male and female, dressed in light lavender colors with green and black bands of face paint to resemble the environment. The females, all wearing pointe shoes, showed off some impressive techniques. One flew across the stage in a powerful split, defying gravity for just a moment; another captured our attention with spontaneous fouette turns. Yet despite the occasional spotlight on individual dancers, the dance was very cohesive, and a visible product of team effort.

    Cooperation between male and female dancers was an essential component of the dance. The men would lift the women up to pose for a moment in the air, and then steadily turn 360 degrees, as if they were frozen, ethereal dancers in a spinning snow globe. In a moment just as romantic, a male dancer reached out his hand to hold a female’s, supporting her weight as she extended her leg slowly towards the sky.

    The entire performance was full of energy and character, just like its dancers. Each dancer seemed light as a feather and agile as flowing water. I’m sure they’ve worked hard for many years to attain such grace. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

    What are some of your experiences that allow you to relate to this saying?

    Sincerely,

    Bingyin