Insights from The Magic Tutu

Your last pair of shoes

For years my dancers have given me their last pair of pointe shoes to hang in the hallway in our Theatre.  When I look at the shoes, all tattered and worn, I remember the dancers entering my studio as little girls.

I did not know our Ballet Mistress, Miss Vickie, when she was a little girl but her pointe shoes adorn our hallway.  She has worked for our ballet company for 15 years.  To see the girls progress from learning to stand in first position to becoming the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, is a transformation both Miss Vickie and I have witnessed and loved for many years.  The clumsy little ducklings become graceful swans.  Amazing.  

I remember Erica being so very little and quiet as a child.  Even then she had perfect posture.  She blossomed in ballet class and in her final year with me, danced the part of the White Swan, Odette, in our presentation of Swan Lake.  I will always remember how etheric she became as Odette and how much she loved the musical score.

 

Sarah has not graduated and left us yet.  Being one of the youngest principal dancers in our Company has never deterred her from dancing each role with perfection.  When she was 3 years old I dressed her in a fluffy, yellow tulle & chiffon costume for our annual dance recital.  Now I dress her in handmade, beaded, gorgeous tutus.  What a pleasure she has been to teach all these years.

Lisa came to us as a Freshman in high school after her parents relocated to Boulder City.  Her technique was flawless and Miss Vickie and I were so happy to have a dancer come to us with her ability.  During summer vacation she would take summer session with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson MS and after graduating from high school went on to dance with Ballet Magnificat in their apprentice company.  We were very proud of her.  Oddly, Lisa's last name is Thibodeau (no x on the end) even though she is no relation to Kathy & Keith (Little Ricky) Thibodeaux who direct Ballet Magnificat.

Marissa danced her final role as Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty.  Very petite with perfect technique, I can still see her in my mind dancing Aurora's solo in an exquisite, hand-made tutu.  She was lovely.  Weighing practically nothing, her partner lifted her with ease during their pas de deux.  Perfection.

 

But of all the ballerinas I have trained in my life, my favorite ballerina is Haley.  Her pointe shoes are not in the Theatre hallway.  Rather they are framed along with her first pair of baby ballet slippers and are displayed in our home.  I could post many more photos of autographed pointe shoes and share my memories with you of each dancer, but for those of you who read my blog you already know how much I love my girls.

 

Please send me your last pair of shoes, worn out with dancing as you mentioned in your letter, so that I might have something to press against my heart.

                                   ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

I have used this quote before when writing about my dancers.  But now, as I approach retirement, it has a deeper meaning.  Hope you have something you love that you can press against your heart.      xoxo Amy

Jeweled pointe shoes

Last night I glued jewels onto the pointe shoes that Lucie & Desi autographed for the auction next weekend.  They turned out just perfect.  They've actually autographed two pair of pointe shoes because we're donating a pair to the Chautauqua Ballet Company in Jamestown NY to auction off at their next production.  Now that  the jewels are dry I can sew on the pink satin ribbons.

Too bad Mr. Bubbles didn't win the Presidential election.  He would have put an immediate stop to the madness that is exploding onto our beautiful planet Earth by signing a law stating that (1) from now on everyone has to be Kind (2) mind their own business (3) meditate and (4) spend time each day gluing sparkling jewels onto pointe shoes.   With all that to accomplish every day, the crazies wouldn't have time to be naughty and cause problems.  Considering the very short time we are alive, it's still shocking to me that there are those who spend their days using, abusing and terrorizing others.   Mr. Bubbles is going to campaign again in 2012 and this time, he'll most certainly win.  Meow!

Desi's autographed pointe shoe

Desi autographed the other pointe shoe in the pair we are auctioning off next weekend in the lobby at "An Evening with Lucille Ball."  His sister, Lucie, autographed the other pointe shoe last week.  Now pink satin ribbons will be sewn onto them and then they'll go under a hand-blown glass dome for the auction.

Our students help us in the lobby during all of the shows we present in our theatre and next weekend they'll be busy!  In addition to the auction we're also selling the brand new Lucille Ball T-shirts, the newly released DVD Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie and a scrumptious assortment of Lucy's chocolate. 

Our mama cat, Margo Fonteyn, was very interested in the pointe shoe while I tried to take these photos.  After all, being a famous ballerina kitty, she's interested in everything having to do with ballet!

Lucie's Pointe Shoe

Lucie signed her pointe shoe at dinner the other night.  Desi will sign his later today and then the pair of pointe shoes will be ready for our April 10-11 raffle.  I put a new photo album up with just a few photos of our theatre as we prepare for this show. The album is called "An Evening with Lucille Ball." Both shows are now sold out and we're very happy about that!  Thank you to those of you who purchased tickets.  It's going to be a wonderful weekend.  xoxo Amy

Another set of autographed pointe shoes!

Here we go again!  The autographed pointe shoes that Desi & Mary Crosby autographed for our Love Letters auction were such a big hit that we decided to auction off another pair for our upcoming show "An Evening with Lucille Ball."  This time, Desi and his sister, Lucie, will autograph them.  I'll keep udating my blog with photos of the pointe shoes as the process goes along.  I have another large glass dome that the finished pointe shoes will be displayed in for the auction. 

Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately but Desi & I both had the creepy crud.  Seems everyone in town had it, but we're on the mend so I won't be gone so long this time.

Autographed pointe shoes

I wrote Love Letters on this pair of pointe shoes today so the glitter glue can dry before Desi and Mary Crosby autograph them.  After they're autographed, I'm placing them inside a hand-blown glass dome along with pink, satin roses and then adding this beautiful gift to our raffle table at the play this Saturday.  It will be a very collectible item and I hope the raffle is bountiful!  We're also raffling a big basket full of Lucy's Chocolate.  Love Letters is sold out as of today so I'd like to say "Thank You!" to those of you who purchased tickets.  Wanda Clark (Lucille Ball's secretary & friend), Frank Gorey (Lucille Ball's chauffeur & friend), Tom Watson, Heather McNair and lots of other friends from out-of-town are coming in for the weekend to see the play.  I'll post some after-play photos here next week.