Sunday, April 15, 2012

A Dancer's Devotion

She started dancing when she was 4 years old, as all little girls do. Lucy slowly worked her way around hip hop, contemporary, ballroom, until she hit ballet. That's where she fit. Lucy, now 17, is at the top of her class and is in line for a spot in the American National Ballet.

And everyday since that first dance class, she pulled her sleek auburn hair back in a tight bun with a simple white bow around it. That's her trademark. The severity of her hair smoothed back offset her gentle features in a way that conveyed her self-imposed discipline.

Every morning at 5 o'clock sharp, Lucy walks into the studio with her soft, wavy locks framing her face. Her moves as graceful as only a ballerina's can be, she sets her bag down gently on the floor and pulls her hair back. She does this precisely, making sure there are no loose pieces, twisting her locks into a tight bun and securing the ribbon around it. Then, she painstakingly ties and straightens the bow until it is squarely in the middle, all the while remaining utterly statuesque.

Lucy goes through the same stretches every day, tapes up her ankles, and perfects her latest routine. Her spine pulled taut, her lines impeccable, she pushes herself even further. Toes pointed, Lucy twists and jumps fluidly and without error. Yet, she's never satisfied. At 7:30, she glides back to her bag, lets down her reddish locks, and leaves for school.

At 4:00, Lucy is right back at the studio, always pushing, always perfecting. She goes through every step and position a hundred times a practice. Her hair pulled back in its classic way, the dancer leaps, spins, and glides seemingly effortlessly. She never misses a step, because of her years of persisting discipline.

Lucy doesn't go out like all her friends do; she doesn't gorge herself on fast food and snacks. Everything she does revolves around ballet. Her diet, her sleep schedule, her schoolwork; everything is timed around her dancing, because it's what she's always done.

To be continued.

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