Alice Ballerina

I can safely say that the gruesome images from "Black Swan" have been erased from my mind after Alice's ballet class took to the floor to dance the role of the heavy thumping cignets on Friday.  They flapped and flew, they waved their little wings and fluttered loudly past the adoring Mums (and Nannies).  It was the second joyous ballet class we have had since she started lessons in September.

Slow to settle, Alice has now firmly found her feet and loves this class.  She seems to have got the hang of some social norms or tricks to make it better for herself.  For example - there's a part where they all have to get into pairs.  Since she didn't know anyone at the start, this was awkward.  After several weeks of encouragement to grab someone else who didn't have a partner, she now smiles warmly at whomever is nearest and reaches for their hands.  They cavort wildly up and down the room and then all try to get a turn with the teacher, Miss Jessica.  Having achieved this much desired goal, Alice went over to one of the very little ones who usually spends most of the lesson crying or trying to undress, smiled sweetly, bent down with her hands on her knees and asked her to dance.  It was very touching.

The rest of the class passed beautifully.  They rehearsed their part in the upcoming production of Sleeping Beauty (they are flowers), about which Alice is bursting with excitement.  We have (compulsory) photo shoot next Saturday, dress rehearsal the following week and the concert on December 10th.  I was unsure of how far she'd get in that mothers are supposed to leave them at the stage door, so I have now been roped into helping backstage, which is giving me further Black Swan nightmares.  I'm not going near the bathrooms, that's all I'm saying.