when life gets you down.

byTheDad

162 followers

8 years ago

...write about it.

Casting came out for our newest production our ballet company is doing. Although I have been a principal dancer for some time, I didn't get first cast, I didn't get second cast, I didn't even get third cast. No my name was all the way at the back of the casting sheet. Fifth cast.

Now you might be saying, why does this matter? And I think the only reason is that it has affected me. Dancers have a sort of sixth sense when it comes to understanding the way we are viewed by others. Perhaps it is the highly critical nature of our craft, or perhaps it is the fact that we have been studying and training our entire lives to fulfil our dream and passion for dance. Whatever it is, we know when we are liked especially by our directors and teachers.

A fifth cast lead role usually means only one thing. Someone else was given preference over you. This can happen, but it usually doesn't happen to principal dancers, and it especially doesn't happen where a lower ranked dancer is given a higher casting over a principal.

Now, I've gotten out my rant the next step is to be productive about it. My goals going forward in this rehearsal process will be to embrace the choreography, find the best way to portray my character and build the perfect connection with my partner. At the end of the day I have to remind myself that what matters most is that I get to live my dream of being a principal ballet dancer and that I need to make the most of this precious career before it's over.

If you've read this far, I appreciate it. I needed to get this off my chest, I know it's not the usual kind of blog you'd find on this forum, but when I joined I was taken by the idea of creating wealth by writing about my passions. So this has been a brief view into my first passion, ballet and how I am determined to be the best I can be.

Cheers,

The Dad