No Tutu, No Problem

Dear Madonna,

I started rehearsals at the National Ballet School today for a performance to take place at the Eaton Centre on International Dance Day: April 29th.

The National Ballet School! I'd never even been in the building before. Years ago I joined my friend Dianne and her daughter Holly at the old location, when Holly auditioned (unsuccessfully) to join the school. There were tears, and burgers at Toby's on Church Street afterwards as I recall. My own experience as a ballerina was even less glamourous. Due to my less-than-svelte physique I was regularly cast in the role of "The Prince". No tutu for you.

I couldn't help thinking how appropriate it was that we were in the Veronica Tennant Studio. The first professional ballet performance I ever saw was Swan Lake at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, with Veronica Tennant in the starring role. What I remember most about her dancing were her calves: they were as big and round as apples every time she was on pointe.

The instructor, Rachel, identified herself as a TTP - which I assume means "Teachers Training Program", or something like that. She's encouraged me to learn the entire piece, not just the chorus, even though I struggled a bit with the "rhythm part" at first. (My brain *was* a little foggy following Vinita's SATC birthday party last night). Rachel also teaches adult ballet at Joy of Dance - small (dance) world!

Gotta run...I have a bunch of stuff to do putting on my "True North Strong and Free" T-shirt and heading to the nearest bar to watch the final men's Olmpic hockey match: Canada versus the U.S. Our women's team already have taken Gold, and this is the last event of the games. A final win in "our game" will be such a great way to wrap up something that started out as the *Vancouver* Olympics but which really seemed to bring the entire country together.

I even got a Gold mani-pedi yesterday for luck!

Ciao for now,
Julie