Restoring my soul.

On Wednesday I took my 10 year old daughter to an Educational event at the Australian Ballet Company in Melbourne.

The day started with a very quick (surprisingly) into Melbourne from my Western Suburbs home.  Love that West Gate Bridge though.  Winds were high and gusty so it was slow going over the bridge.  Then coming into the city I got on the wrong exit and ended up behind where I needed to be.  So pulled over and set my GPS for the State Theatre,  of course it takes me to the front door not the underground parking area, so off around the bend I go, all the while Miss ten telling me “We are going to be late mum and they won’t let us in.”  we still had an hour to curtain.  Eventually we drive in to the carpark ($25 flat rate parking) walk up the ramp and Miss Ten, pipes up, “MUM, I’m hungry.”  Of course she is.  Expecting at least one of the cafe’s to be open downstairs near the doors we trudge our way down into the bowels of the State Theatre, only to find no cafe open.  Disappointment prevailed, we wandered aimlessly for five minutes to try to find an exit to go back up a level.  Thankfully one of the ushers took pity and directed us to the lifts.  We found a cafe and grabbed some water and a muffin and trudged our way back down to the Theatre, where they were already filling the seats.

There on stage was the Corps de Ballet in a class, we love the open end of the class where the dancers have to do arabesque and pirouettes and high jumps.  Their strength and endurance is amazing,  they all looked like they were having so much fun, beautiful smiles and giggles emanated from some of the girls, so sweet.

We were treated to a short interview by Colin Peasley with two of the young dancers about to perform, Calvin Hannaford and one of the tapperinas.  They were full of laughs and insight into their lives in the ballet.

The performance we were seeing was called BEYOND TWELVE by Graeme Murphy,  “The story for Beyond Twelve is my own creation, though most dancers could lay claim to it.  The first movement, “beyond twelve’, explores the decisions and dilemmas facing the pre-adolescent embarking on a career in dance.  In ‘Beyond Eighteen’, the teenage dancer discovers danger, delight, blossoming romance and stark reality.  The final movement, ‘beyond thirty’, finds the mature dancer reflecting on the lonely uncertainties of a future beyond dance.  Janet Vernon and I dedicate this season to Kelvin Coe, the amazing artist who created the mature dancer role and whose dancing spirit is forever embodied in this ballet.”  from the program of Introduction to Ballet, The Australian Ballet Company.

I will say the performance was wonderful, funny, sad, engaging and inspiring – the Ravel Concerto played so perfectly by Brian Cousins on piano was worth every penny our tickets cost.  Miss ten now wants to be an Australian Ballet Company Dancer, (does that mean I have to learn to sew costumes?).

We have tickets to attend the Australian Ballet Company 50th Anniversary Gala event in November, we are so looking forward to experiencing the wonder of other dance companies along side our illustrious performers.

If you wish to check out the Ballet or sponsor them in any way you can go to the website at australianballet.com.au.

Phenomenal.