“Matthew, do you know I’m off my leg?” The question seemed simple enough, and the task – balance her on one pointe-shoed leg – was not complicated. Ah, I see what’s happening, I thought to myself, and quickly manipulated her weight back. “No that’s worse,” came the agitated reply. And then, as if to accentuate the problem, her hips started oscillating violently, like an unbalanced washing machine – seemingly hoping this action might mysteriously propel her onto balance.
Pas de deux, from novice student to seasoned professional, is at times frustrating. It can be a test of patience. I did consider offering the off-balanced ballerinathe advice: “Well if you knew where your ‘leg’ was in the first place, maybe I could find it!” But luckily, I never had the gumption to say this out loud; they were only my mumbled thoughts. What I actually said was, “Oh sorry, it’s my fault.” Secretly thinking, I bet she is on her ‘leg’, but I don’t think she likes me. Why? Do I smell?
This is an extract from Matthew Lawrence’s article on the delicate diplomatic balance required of dance partnerships in the Oct/Nov issue of Dance Australia. Matthew is a principal dancer with the Queensland Ballet.
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