Class with a Master

Originally posted on July 4, 2011
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This is my first anniversary of learning ballet. And of course, it must be celebrated the same way it started:
scared, nervous, uncertain, doubtful and stomach flutters.  

MDB and I agree (or maybe I'm prodded?) to go to Saturday 1pm ballet 2 with Joel Hall. 

Oddly, I wasn't nervous going to class, but I think that had to do the extremely late night/early morning I had on Saturday.  As I walk into the studio, I look into the fish bowl to see Mr. Hall putting everyone through their paces. He is pulling legs higher, straighter, checking and giving attitude, making corrections and snapping his fingers. I'm in awe and suddenly scared shitless. 

MDB rounds the corner and we hug tight. I'm thinking about squeezing her silly for recommending this class, but I'm here. 

The class lets out and everyone is covered in sweat and relief. The industrial fans are blowing the hot air around as the ballet 2 crowd walks in. I put down my things and try to hide at the barre in the corner, but no - MDB is standing at the barre placed in the center of the floor. 
"So you are going to abandon me out here, huh?" MDB says over her shoulder.
Side Bar: HELL YEAH! He's going to be closest to that barre!
Menty: He's going to see us where ever we are.
Side Bar: I don't need to be up close and personal!
Menty: Get yo ass over to that barre!

I try to wonder nonchalant to the barre, but I'm kinda terrified. And as if that's not bad enough, Mr. Hall pulls up a stool and sits less than 8 feet away from me in a soaking wet shirt to start class.

We start facing the barre i.e. I start facing him. And while the combinations are simple enough (eight plies, eight tendus with plie, forced arch, eleve, and lower - both sides then reverse order, eight degages front, side, back - reverse - then four, then two then one, eight rond de jambs - reverse, grand battement front, side and grande panache to the back), he is not so interested in the combination - he is interested solely in the mastery of the technique.

Knees back! Weight back in the HEELS! Push DOWN! POINT! Push that hell FORWARD! Unfortunately, due to my chubby knees, I have to shift slightly to get them 'unstuck' from themselves - and he shouts 'No SHIFTING.' 
Side Bar and Menty: Blink....Blink...Blink
Side Bar: But I'm fat
Menty: I don't think he cares....

Mr. Hall is very specific about what he wants - and he wants it to be correct. He calls out the names of the people that aren't correct - and I'm a little thankful he doesn't know mine - but he has my undivided attention and I know when he is talking to me. 

The barre is a practice in perfection and even MDB is getting her corrections. At one point, Mr. Hall grabs her leg and pulls it into a very high arabesque while she is holding a balance on releve. MDB holds it staring up at Ethereal - and I'm holding my breath. 
Side Bar and Menty: Blink....Blink...

I start to think maybe I can't make it through barre, let alone consider floor combinations, when Mr. Hall releases us for a water break. As I return from the ladies room, I hear Mr. Hall calling for someone that hasn't returned to class. I run into class to find everyone lined up. I drop my stuff while he is telling us that he doesn't want to be looking for us. I fall into the back line closest to MDB and try not to feel like an elephant in a china shop breaking all the fine china. 

One of the students from the previous class asks to be excused while the rest of us are trying to get through the first of many floor combinations. He wants us to say the combinations as we move through them. I don't know them all by heart yet, but I do my best not to miss any of the postures and positions as we move through them. 

We move into two more combinations that I cannot manage to do all the way through. I try to get through as much of the combination as possible. I don't give up even when I'm so frustrated I could cry. When we finally get to the end of class we must finish with pique turns. The tempo is so fast I can't keep up but I push through as best as I can. I even have to restart every time -but I just dig down and try not to lose my nerve as the better students appear to be turning on top of me. 

And when class is over, I start breathing again - big whooping lungs full. I threatened to kill MDB twice after class started, but she kept saying she was going to die before class was over anyway. She didn't and I didn't kill her either. 

We exchanged big sweaty hugs - thankful to make it through the most intense 90 minutes ballet 2 class anywhere. And as I gather my things and Mr. Hall calls me over to him and gives me a big hug. And I cry a little because it was hard and he's so fantastic and talented and wonderful. He tells me to keep going to my classes and going to Saturday class. And he tells me not to be intimidated by ANYONE. 

And I think - He must be kidding - he's Joel Hall!! 

So now I'm taking beginner AND BALLET 2 classes! Whose up for my next adventures