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For me as young girl there was nothing quite like the sparkle of the gorgeous tutus, the pink ballet slippers and the poignant elegance of a ballerina. As the youngest of 4 children I would escape the busyness of my household through the local library. There among the stacks of books I would often gravitate towards titles on the subject of ballet. I would borrow books from the library, pouring over the pages and doing my best to imitate the finely drawn pictures of various ballet positions in front of my mirror at home. I was a very quiet child and it was my own special world. I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful elementary school teacher from England, Mrs. Paul, who introduced us to classical music and literature. She would sometimes get tickets for the ballet or the symphony and on her Saturday night she would take a group of us. Often stowed away in the furthest seats of the theatre, this opportunity offered me a glimpse into the magical world of the theatre, and I fell in love. As a young adult I carved out time to finally take formal ballet lessons. For a few years I had the opportunity to develop my technique and actually participate in something I so ardently admired. But as is expected, life got busy. In the following years I would often take my Mother to the National Ballet, entering into the worlds of Cinderella, Swan Lake, and Onegin to name a few. When I met my husband he became my theatre partner, often accompanying me to different performances throughout the years. I eventually had a daughter of my own, and I got to witness her own awe and wonder as I introduced her to a world I was so fond of. I still remember taking her to her first ballet – a performance of The Nutcracker – and the way my own childlike joy shone through in her. Now as a family we still try to attend a performance when we can, it is as always a beautiful escape from everyday life. When COVID hit and we were all isolating I saw that the National Ballet was doing classes through Zoom. During a time with so much uncertainty, life felt so different, so on a whim I signed up to reconnect with something I once was so fond of doing in my youth. I attended a few classes with different teachers and then I tried Annmarie’s class. I immediately felt so welcomed and loved how she connected with her students and imparted her love of dance in how she teaches. Her class always made what was happening in the world disappear for an hour. That quiet child still lives within me somewhere and I still feel that sense of escape from the world around me when I am at the barre and dancing. We should never lose that childhood ability to slip into a different world if only for a short time. It renews the body and the spirit. The Silver Swan ballet class every week is always a magical hour of being immersed in beautiful music and movement where the outside world is forgotten! My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Lily even knows when I say ballet class and she jumps on the couch and it’s her peaceful hour! Annemarie you inspire, encourage and guide and for that hour I am a ballet dancer. Thank you for sharing your talent and bringing joy to others. Louise
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