Dancing Queen

Today

I had a most enjoyable visit to my nephew this week. I met new baby Charlotte, who's a sweet and relaxed child, and had a chance to become better acquainted with her older sister Amelia. Once she'd got over her shyness and climbed out from under the table she was full of life showing off and chattering away. Her mother told me (by way of apology, possibly, for her daughter's unusual get-up) that she'd been playing dressing up with her cousin Victoria earlier in the day. Amelia seemed to be wearing: Jeans with knickers worn on top, Batman's Robin style, a multi coloured tutu and a pink balloon skirted pinafore dress over a jumper.

I commented on the tutu. "Are you going to do ballet when you're old enough?" I asked. "Yes, I am!" she replied in a voice that brooked no opposition.

"Well, you know, your cousin Becky used to do ballet."

In My day

Becky always had plenty of physical confidence, and she danced to music from the time she could sit up. Tricia seemed convinced that ballet would be her thing and encouraged us to organise it. So, from the age of three, she was enrolled in a ballet school in Eastbourne. Between us, Paul, Tricia and I got her there and back each week. Becky certainly enjoyed the dancing and was reasonably talented. Her innate sense of rhythm and desire to get things right were a good combination.

 In order to please her Gran, I think Lizzie also attempted some ballet classes. But she was by this time approaching nine years' old and dancing was never her passion so she soon stopped going, to Tricia's slight disappointment who, I think, had dreams of a Pavlova emerging somewhere from within the family.

From time to time the school would put on performances and arrange trips to the theatre. We went to see "La Fille Mal Gardee" at Eastbourne's Congress Theatre with all the little ones in front row seats, and another time to see "Coppelia".
  
Waiting while the children finished the class had its enlivening moments. One of the most gifted children in Becky's class was a black girl. "Well", said Tricia, by way of explanation, "It's in their blood!" Paul wanted to ask if she thought that came from all those years dancing around the cooking pot, but decided to keep the peace.

The great event was the school's display performance. For this they hired the Congress theatre, making it a prestigious event. The older classes performed ballet, tap and modern dance extravaganzas. Becky's class put on a performance of "The Tailor of Gloucester". Becky, as one of the taller ones, was dressed up as a boy tailor mouse in eighteenth century costume. This came to me to stitch, ready cut out, and I was hard put to get it to fit Becky who was growing rapidly; I think the sleeves were much too short. The performance was delightful, Becky didn't put a foot wrong and we still have a lovely picture of her with her best friend Lara who was a girl mouse.

The move to Somerset combined with Becky shooting up to six foot put a stop to ballet, but she still loves to dance and has grace and rhythm.

Amelia, I feel sure you'll have a lovely time and I would like invitations to see you perform, please.