The memories came flooding back to me in an instant. The lights dimmed, the live orchestra swelled, and the curtains rose. As the dancers graced the stage with their pointed toes, extended legs and elongated arms, my heart began to flutter. I was reminded of my days as a ballerina as I watched others live out my dream on stage. As I sat there in the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco Ballet’s production of Giselle evoked a crescendo of emotions and bittersweet memories. It was the highlight of my week.
I watched as the dancers glided across the stage and leapt off the ground and twirled on their toes while I sat in my cushioned red velvet seat. It was beautiful. It was painful. It was nostalgic. It felt weird being on the other side of it — the one observing from the balcony in my black silk dress, not the one uncomfortably sweating on stage as the blisters from my pointe shoes sent strikes up my legs. As I remembered the pain, I remembered the passion.
On the way to the theatre, my friend asked me, “What should I know in order to appreciate this more?” It wasn’t something I could explain. People can appreciate art simply because it is beautiful. But how do I explain that I appreciate more than its surface-level beauty? I appreciate it because I understand it. I don’t just understand it, I’ve experienced it. I haven’t just experienced it, I lived with it for 14 years. How do I put my years of experience and bittersweet love for ballet into words? How do I translate an essence of my being into something others can understand?
So here is my best effort at explaining: you just appreciate it because it is there. Appreciate the artistry you are graced by and appreciate the fact that it simply exists. Understanding may not come easily, but appreciating can. Not everyone needs to have undergone the same experiences in order to cherish the same moments. For me, I have always been in love with the art of performing, of creating something of myself for others to enjoy. The burning stage lights gave me an inexplicable feeling of sophistication and beauty. It was impossible to resist. Yet, I knew that many members of the audience do not understand all that goes into the production of a ballet. I still hoped that they would appreciate seeing the art form itself.
Everybody, if presented with the opportunity, should go to the ballet at least once in their lives; it is a moment of your life taken to appreciate the grace and artistry of others. After all, our cheap balcony tickets fared just as well as the expensive orchestra tickets. If you ever have the desire or opportunity to immerse yourself in the arts, do it. If you ever want to venture out of your little college community and dress up and take on the city, do it. If you ever want to go to the ballet just to at least say you’ve been, do it. Experience the beauty life presents to you and open your heart to the world of culture. It’s good for the soul.