ballet

There is a ballet studio in Bangkok that puts on a full length ballet every year. They have professional ballerinas play the main roles and the younger children's performances are interspersed throughout the show. Eliot and I have been to see it the last few years and this year in a moment of weakness,  asked if she wanted to join in. She jumped at the opportunity. 

Turns out I am not cut out to be a ballet mom. It was a lot of work. Just getting her to practice once a week was hard for me. Then the week before the show she had to put in at least 25 hours at the theater in dress rehearsals, practice and make up prep. I'm still recovering. 

 She continues to be a performer at heart and loved all of it. Though her main motivation might have been wearing make up and getting flowers. I insisted that Rocky and Violet join me for the ballet, since my usual ballet date was performing. Eliot easily sits through the 2 hour+ performance but it was a bit harder for Rocky and Violet. I'm not sure who complained more about the length. At one point Violet loudly asked, "These guys again? When are they going to be done?" We stuffed her full of chocolate to keep her quiet and paid the price later.

 Today she had her last ballet class, when I told her this she threw a bit of the fit at the prospect of doing ballet again, "But Mom, why should I do ballet, the show is finished?" She was clearly interested in ballet only for the posture correction and leg strengthening.

 I asked her if she wanted to do ballet when we moved and she asked, "Is there a big show?" Violet has already asked when she can start ballet, thought maybe it's just to get out of sitting through the performances.

Ballet is always better with friends, especially when they carpool.