Karate Choppin' Chopin
So the big performance is tonight, and the dancers amass on stage for the Chopin section of the program, called Les Sylphides. We have decided to keep the curtains closed, and "place" dancers on stage, while the narration and the music play. Mrs. B. says, "I guess you could even enter with a cartwheel! Since the curtains are closed, I don't care!" The girls wear white long dresses, some on pointe, with laurel crowns, and slowly dance to music of Frederick Chopin, the Prelude, Mazurka, Valse Brilliante, and the Waltz. There are other parts, but those are the selections we chose.
Ms. Barb is on the lights and intercom to the sound man. She will signal the house lights and the music to begin. I hear her tell the house lights to dim, then they go out. The music and narration begins.
What's this. Jena signals me. "Watch this Miss Conni." She does a cartwheel in her long, white ballerina dress. I smile. Alexandria does one, too. Then another dancer. Soon the dancers are all moving back and forth, giggling and walking and not in formation. The music plays. I try to get their attention. They are not listening, they are laughing.
Then they start to run back and forth, checking each others labels. Yes, I had told them to make sure THE LABELS ARE NOT STICKING UP IN BACK ! Now what is happening? Oh no! Ms. Barb wants to open the curtain! What in the world is Breanna doing? Karate kicks and Katy looks like she is running off! Girls! Stop! Music! The Dance is beginning! Breanna continues in her long skirt, chopping with her flexed foot while Chopin plays!
Music, Action! Lights! Ballerinas need to pay attention to the music, NOW!!!!!
I am yelling over the loud narrative and the music, and just then, as the curtain opens, the chaos ends, and 10 ballerinas magically appear to float toward the audience on the melody of Frederick Chopin's Les Sylphides, and my breathing goes from fast Karate choppin' to the peaceful timing of the Nocturne.
Does anyone realize why I am getting WAY too old for this JOB????? They have no clue what really goes on during the intermission!!!!
Ms. Barb is on the lights and intercom to the sound man. She will signal the house lights and the music to begin. I hear her tell the house lights to dim, then they go out. The music and narration begins.
What's this. Jena signals me. "Watch this Miss Conni." She does a cartwheel in her long, white ballerina dress. I smile. Alexandria does one, too. Then another dancer. Soon the dancers are all moving back and forth, giggling and walking and not in formation. The music plays. I try to get their attention. They are not listening, they are laughing.
Then they start to run back and forth, checking each others labels. Yes, I had told them to make sure THE LABELS ARE NOT STICKING UP IN BACK ! Now what is happening? Oh no! Ms. Barb wants to open the curtain! What in the world is Breanna doing? Karate kicks and Katy looks like she is running off! Girls! Stop! Music! The Dance is beginning! Breanna continues in her long skirt, chopping with her flexed foot while Chopin plays!
Music, Action! Lights! Ballerinas need to pay attention to the music, NOW!!!!!
I am yelling over the loud narrative and the music, and just then, as the curtain opens, the chaos ends, and 10 ballerinas magically appear to float toward the audience on the melody of Frederick Chopin's Les Sylphides, and my breathing goes from fast Karate choppin' to the peaceful timing of the Nocturne.
Does anyone realize why I am getting WAY too old for this JOB????? They have no clue what really goes on during the intermission!!!!
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