For much of the eight years I've been writing this blog I've been the only male in my ballet classes. Occasionally, though, there have been other men in class, and recently we've had as many as four of us in class at once. When this happens our instructor often asks that we men do the petit and grand allegro sections as a separate group. This, I suspect, is because we tend to move across the floor more than the women. Recently she's also asked for the music to slow a bit when we go; apparently this is traditional, to allow us to jump higher—which takes longer—and still keep pace with the music.
As I've written before, I'm a little bit competitive, but in a good way. When I see someone doing something really well I feel challenged to perform better. Maybe the term "inspired" would be better than "challenged". I watch them to see what it is that they're doing differently. A good example might be my efforts to improve my petit jetes and glissades. But the feeling of competitiveness is heightened when it's a group of four men, two of whom are more advanced than I am.
Still, this is me telling myself that I can do better. Before class, when I'm feeling fresh and energetic, I've completed double pirouettes. The last quarter turn often isn't nice and my spotting needs work, but I'm not falling over and the landing is stable. By the end of class, though, when I'm hot and exhausted I'm content to land a single pirouette with some measure of precision rather than hop through a sloppy double attempting to keep up with the others.
And so it was rather shocking when one of the women asked me, "Why don't YOU do that?", indicating one of the other men. I managed to suppress my initial reaction, which would have been to slap her across the face and demand, "Why aren't you on pointe like some of the other women?" Instead I blinked a couple of times before replying truthfully, "Because I'm exhausted and I'm happy to just remember what step comes next." She smiled and nodded understandingly, but inside I was seriously pissed off.
Please, folk. Don't be judgmental of others. You probably wouldn't be happy if I asked you a question like that.
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