caught a glimpse of my son's "drama class" at his kindergarden yesterday. at school they have one weekly "art class" with a very patient, elderly lady and a little acting activity every wednesday - with a younger, incredibly energetic teacher. i loved watching my boy miming and moving along to the directions given - it did make me smile.
whenever i think about things i wish for my little one' s future - i seem always to focus on sports, free time and outdoors. somehow i always seem to hope he will make good, happy use of his own "real" time - with a real passion for it. i hardly ever worry about things like his education - perhaps as that was the main focus given to my upbringing. while deep down i truly hated school and had major attention deficit bouts... come to think of it...at the end of the day i never seemed to get the point of discipline altogether - something i only seem to associate (even now) to exercising or keeping a healthy fitness routine.
as to drama - i do not think i have much talent for it, but i have always loved it. there is a quality to acting that brings together empathy, psychology and creativity and the few times i have seen somebody truly gifted on stage i was swept off my feet to say the least. what power, what intensity there can be in a certain tone of voice, a sequence of facial expressions, a change of posture, a different outfit. plus - some of the literature written for the stage is absolutely stunning - with every single scene creating the perfect balance between short story and poetry.
it is however funny how some feelings stick with you for a long time... as i was watching the mini-thespians yesterday, i noticed that in the little gym next door a group of girls were doing some ballet routine, all dressed up in pink and fluffy tutu skirts. i cannot help it -- but whenever i see a ballet class i get overwhelmed by a feeling of dread and sadness. to me - it just looks unbearably depressing. i have heard it described as "very feminine" and "elegant" and "sweet", but maybe because of some indelible childhood trauma... i always cringe whenever i think of it.
interestingly, and also because of the recent oscar nominations' frenzy -- there has been quite a bit of debate around ballet, mainly in connection with darren aronofsky's ballet-based drama "black swan"...have been reading "the daily telegraph" for the past couple of weeks and a number of articles claim the movie is yet another "unrealistic" portrayt of ballet, setting back its public's perception 50 years. one article even analysed what ambitions ballet triggers in pushy parents.
whenever i think about things i wish for my little one' s future - i seem always to focus on sports, free time and outdoors. somehow i always seem to hope he will make good, happy use of his own "real" time - with a real passion for it. i hardly ever worry about things like his education - perhaps as that was the main focus given to my upbringing. while deep down i truly hated school and had major attention deficit bouts... come to think of it...at the end of the day i never seemed to get the point of discipline altogether - something i only seem to associate (even now) to exercising or keeping a healthy fitness routine.
as to drama - i do not think i have much talent for it, but i have always loved it. there is a quality to acting that brings together empathy, psychology and creativity and the few times i have seen somebody truly gifted on stage i was swept off my feet to say the least. what power, what intensity there can be in a certain tone of voice, a sequence of facial expressions, a change of posture, a different outfit. plus - some of the literature written for the stage is absolutely stunning - with every single scene creating the perfect balance between short story and poetry.
it is however funny how some feelings stick with you for a long time... as i was watching the mini-thespians yesterday, i noticed that in the little gym next door a group of girls were doing some ballet routine, all dressed up in pink and fluffy tutu skirts. i cannot help it -- but whenever i see a ballet class i get overwhelmed by a feeling of dread and sadness. to me - it just looks unbearably depressing. i have heard it described as "very feminine" and "elegant" and "sweet", but maybe because of some indelible childhood trauma... i always cringe whenever i think of it.
interestingly, and also because of the recent oscar nominations' frenzy -- there has been quite a bit of debate around ballet, mainly in connection with darren aronofsky's ballet-based drama "black swan"...have been reading "the daily telegraph" for the past couple of weeks and a number of articles claim the movie is yet another "unrealistic" portrayt of ballet, setting back its public's perception 50 years. one article even analysed what ambitions ballet triggers in pushy parents.
"...As the Natalie Portman ballet film Black Swan opens this week, controversially lifting the veil on the dark underbelly of an art form premised on seemingly effortless perfection, ballet mothers come off rather badly. Portman’s unhealthy relationship with her infantilising, over-controlling parent, is a crucial component of her mental fragility.
It makes for a melodramatic storyline, but is it a fair reflection of the mothers whose self-sacrifice and tenacity is instrumental in propelling their daughters to the peak of their profession?..."
It makes for a melodramatic storyline, but is it a fair reflection of the mothers whose self-sacrifice and tenacity is instrumental in propelling their daughters to the peak of their profession?..."
i read on with interest (by the way, the daily telegraph has probably one of the best and more entertaining online lifestyle and culture sections - with topics ranging from family to travels, fashion and expat life...) and, sure, parental expectations have deeper and more complex roots and you cannot stigmatise things like ballet only... but somehow... it does look like some kind of allergy i must have. the allergy to be kept en pointe...i figure!
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