Being something of a ballet snob (due to my years of training and indoctrination in classical Russian technique!), I watched the opening number with a critical eye."Hey," I thought to myself, "These girls know how to hold their hands and arms." My thoughts continued, "I'm noticing great stage presence. These girls spot perfectly and every pointed toe is an extension of a line, no floppy feet or sloppy technique."
I was captivated. At the first intermission I read in the program that the artistic director, Joanne Hughes Morscher, had trained and performed with the same company as me. No wonder I felt so at home!!! -- almost like I was living the performance.
As it happened, during the second intermission I discovered I was sitting right behind a woman who also danced in the same ballet company as me. She had come to see her friend's dancers perform. We got to catch up a little after the show and went together to talk with Dr. Morscher.
To top off the afternoon I was treated to excerpts of the ballet Napoli, one I had never seen before.
Thank you, Gene!
