Last Friday I got fitted for my first contact lenses. That same evening I saw myself in the big studio mirror for the first time without soft focus since my mid-twenties. It was like reverse photo-shopping. Dorian Gray and all that. Fast forward to the future. Oh, well. I could of course opt out and return to looking at my "younger" mirror image, but there really is no turning back. Especially since 20/20 vision is so much better for spotting those pirouettes! It's a bit of a trade-off, but I think I'd rather face my lines than give up on multiple turns. But would it kill anyone to install more flattering lighting?
You may wonder why I waited for so many years? For one, I can't wear glasses and dance at the same time. I tried but it was hugely distracting and not practical at all. Mostly I wear them for watching TV or when I'm traveling in strange surroundings. Whenever I want to see past 2 meters with clear precision. Ballet class, on the other hand, is familiar territory, and I could probably do a basic barre blind-folded. Although at times it has been problematic. If the teacher is on the other side of the class-room (we have big studios), and looking straight at me - I cannot tell. I'm afraid that because of this I might on occasion have come across as stand-offish. And if she's giving me advice or a correction without saying my name, I know only for sure if I noticed the error myself. To be on the safe side, I take all corrections personally anyway.
When I got back to ballet some five years ago, I never considered my nearsightedness to be an issue in ballet class - other than for the reason I just wrote above. Until I started to wonder if my lazy pirouette-spotting could have anything to do with it. I turn well enough if we're in the smaller studio, or if we're going in the diagonal and I can focus on the wall at each end. But if we dance in the bigger studio it's much more difficult. It's even worse if we have to turn facing the mirror. How are you supposed to spot when you can't focus your eyes? Still, I was weary of getting contacts. I hated the idea of putting some foreign object into my eyes.
Finally, my teacher gave me the necessary push and told me to consider contacts. Which I then did. Booked myself an appointment and braved the moment of first contact. Well, turns out I have excellent control of the eyelid wink-reflex and very good hand-eye coordination. Got that lense in on my first try! It was kinda awesome to find out about this previously un-known skill! ;) The lense felt a bit odd, but not itchy or otherwise unpleasant like I had feared. What a relief!
First class was a new experience. After I got over the initial shock of seeing myself so clearly in the mirror, I enjoyed the sensation of fully visualizing my surroundings. I could see other faces across the room! I could focus from a distance! Now, if that could have been followed by quadruple pirouettes.. But not quite there yet. I have to readjust myself first, learn to dance again outside of my own little space. After class my teacher told me that she saw a difference already. I had appeared more "present". Before, she could not always tell if I was concentrating on my turns or not, as I often looked "inward". Now, there seemed to be a new kind of certainty.
There's another added bonus. I became immediately aware of the many faces I tend to make in class! You know, the lip-biting and furrowed brows, the weird expressions we make when we stumble or screw up.. It may look funny, but you're not supposed to show your mishaps on your face while you dance. Ballet is a performing art, and our expressions are part of the performance. Though I'm not one to plast a perma-smile on for class. A relaxed, alert and happy looking face is plenty enough!
P.S. Last Tuesday my dearly missed and long awaited triple pirouettes made a come-back. There was one, totally out of the blue, and another one which just kept turning. Two, not more, but a promising start nonetheless. I am excited to see where this is going!
You may wonder why I waited for so many years? For one, I can't wear glasses and dance at the same time. I tried but it was hugely distracting and not practical at all. Mostly I wear them for watching TV or when I'm traveling in strange surroundings. Whenever I want to see past 2 meters with clear precision. Ballet class, on the other hand, is familiar territory, and I could probably do a basic barre blind-folded. Although at times it has been problematic. If the teacher is on the other side of the class-room (we have big studios), and looking straight at me - I cannot tell. I'm afraid that because of this I might on occasion have come across as stand-offish. And if she's giving me advice or a correction without saying my name, I know only for sure if I noticed the error myself. To be on the safe side, I take all corrections personally anyway.
When I got back to ballet some five years ago, I never considered my nearsightedness to be an issue in ballet class - other than for the reason I just wrote above. Until I started to wonder if my lazy pirouette-spotting could have anything to do with it. I turn well enough if we're in the smaller studio, or if we're going in the diagonal and I can focus on the wall at each end. But if we dance in the bigger studio it's much more difficult. It's even worse if we have to turn facing the mirror. How are you supposed to spot when you can't focus your eyes? Still, I was weary of getting contacts. I hated the idea of putting some foreign object into my eyes.
Finally, my teacher gave me the necessary push and told me to consider contacts. Which I then did. Booked myself an appointment and braved the moment of first contact. Well, turns out I have excellent control of the eyelid wink-reflex and very good hand-eye coordination. Got that lense in on my first try! It was kinda awesome to find out about this previously un-known skill! ;) The lense felt a bit odd, but not itchy or otherwise unpleasant like I had feared. What a relief!
First class was a new experience. After I got over the initial shock of seeing myself so clearly in the mirror, I enjoyed the sensation of fully visualizing my surroundings. I could see other faces across the room! I could focus from a distance! Now, if that could have been followed by quadruple pirouettes.. But not quite there yet. I have to readjust myself first, learn to dance again outside of my own little space. After class my teacher told me that she saw a difference already. I had appeared more "present". Before, she could not always tell if I was concentrating on my turns or not, as I often looked "inward". Now, there seemed to be a new kind of certainty.
There's another added bonus. I became immediately aware of the many faces I tend to make in class! You know, the lip-biting and furrowed brows, the weird expressions we make when we stumble or screw up.. It may look funny, but you're not supposed to show your mishaps on your face while you dance. Ballet is a performing art, and our expressions are part of the performance. Though I'm not one to plast a perma-smile on for class. A relaxed, alert and happy looking face is plenty enough!
P.S. Last Tuesday my dearly missed and long awaited triple pirouettes made a come-back. There was one, totally out of the blue, and another one which just kept turning. Two, not more, but a promising start nonetheless. I am excited to see where this is going!
