Dancing to the Music

8:57:33 PM EST
Hearing "From Distant Shores" by Galdalf
Because I seemed to enjoy dancing on my own so much, and evidently seemed to be good at it, my mother thought it would be a good idea to take me to a ballet school and see what a professional ballet teacher thought of my "natural talents".  I do remember this occasion fairly well, even though I was about three years old at the time.  I remember going into what seemed like a very large studio and there were mirrors everywhere and big bars along the walls.  It all looked very big and scary to me.  My mother talked to the teacher for a little bit and then my mother told me that I was going to dance, by myself, in the middle of the floor for this woman.  There wasn't anyone else there, at least.  It wasn't like there was an entire class of students staring at me, but I was a very shy child and the thought of dancing for this "stranger" was really challenging to me.  I stood out in the middle of the floor and the teacher put some music on the turn table.  The music started but I stood still.  I didn't dance.  I didn't do anything.  Finally, I motioned for my mother to come over.  The teacher turned off the music.  My mother walked out to me and leaned down.  I whispered in her ear.  Then my mother laughed a soft laugh.  The kind of laugh that mother's laugh when their child says something cute that will be remembered for years to come.  So, what did I whisper to my mother?  Well, I told her that I would dance, if my mother would make the teacher leave the room and not watch me.  As I said, I was shy and wanted to dance alone, as I did at home, not in front of this woman whom I didn't even know!  After that, I can't remember if I danced for the woman or not, but I do remember whispering that request in my mother's ear.  So, that was my introduction to a formal ballet studio.  It wouldn't be my last.

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10:29:30 AM EST
Feeling Quiet
As a child, one of the first things that I remember is music.  I was lucky enough to be in a home that appreciated and loved music, all kinds of music, including classical as well as hits of the 30's and 40's, my parents' heyday music and the music of WWII era folks.  My mother would put on 33 rpm records on our Magnovox record player and play wonderful classical music, my favorite being Chopin's "greatest hits".  I was emotionally moved by this music and would often jump up and start dancing to it.  I was not told to dance, instructed how to dance, or urged to dance, I simply felt it and got up and started to dance.  I would spin and jump and enjoy myself immensely.  My parents would love to watch me dance and this was the beginning of a life long love affair with the art form of dance. 

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