'a great impression of simplicity can only be achieved by a great agony of body and spirit'

Although the quote above is in reference to dancing I think it can pretty much be applied to any aspect of life. When you encounter someone who is successful, in nearly all cases they will tell you that it can only be achieved through hard work and determination. Right now it's that thought that's driving me forward and keeping me focussed. For anyone unfamiliar with it, the quote comes from The Red Shoes, starring the magnificent Moira Shearer, an amazing ballerina in her own right. Having spent the week feeling under the weather from all the vaccines, I was debating whether I was in the mood for ballet last night but I'm really glad I ended up going. Whenever I mention my dancing, people are always intrigued by it, particularly when they learn that it's ballet and I guess that's because classical ballet is such a high art form. What I love about my current teacher is how much she loves ballet in its essence. But it's not necessarily a form of dance that does need to be performed to classical pieces, which she proved last night by making us practice our adage to Etta James 'I just want to make love to you'. Art is in the eye of the beholder, and it reminded me of The Washington Post's social experiment from a few years back with Joshua Bell. Bell is one of the most talented classical musicians in the world, selling out the most famous venues in the world.. So the Post placed him in a busker's spot in a metro station in Washington DC, and guess what? He was ignored by almost every commuter that passed him by. A nice little reminder to not be so quick to judge a book by its cover, and to always keep your eyes open to the things happening around.


Happy Friday, everyone! Now I really need to go and meet Sarey, or she will punch me for being late..





photo source: ballet slippers (mine), Alfred Eisenstaedt'S Ballerinas on window sill via weheartit, Moira Shearer (photo by William Sumits), Audrey Hepburn photo