Unexpected Ballet

Today, shortly after I awoke, I went and stood in a lake and took pictures of people running, willingly, into the lake. (My Timberlands are waterproof, but not when the water flows into the eyelets and over the top of the boots; must give them a thorough cleaning tomorrow.)

Then I went to a skating party, where I received an invitation to attend a ballet tonight.

And me being me, I accepted without really even caring at all about going ... and in fact, I was feeling sorta tired and unenthusiastic.

But tonight was perfect.

I saw the Ballet Internationalé — based in Indianapolis, of all places — perform Russian Treasures and Carmen. And to be perfectly honest, I know so little about dancing, overall, that I would not know good ballet from bad ballet.

But this was terrific.

And I loved that, during the introduction to Carmen, I immediately recognized the music. And, OK, it was (in part) because it is the same music that plays on the Gilligan’s Island episode in which Gilligan plays Hamlet (!!!), but still: I like when I know the stuff, and I as familiar with half of the songs in Carmen.

I do not know how well-known (or not) the members of this company happen to be, but I will say that I was amazed by Zhanna Sinitsyna and her performance of “Dying Swan.” She has these amazing long, lithe arms, and as I watched her dance, and her hands, I thought, wow, would it not be incredible to be that “in control” of every aspect of your own movement.

And another dancer who caught my eye was Ogulcan Borova, who performed in “Don Quixote” and also played José in Carmen. His dancing was wonderful, and his face and butt were beautiful.

I believe I could really learn to appreciate ballet.

: )