A balancing act

Sarah Wang, a sixth grader at St. John’s School, has danced at Houston Ballet Academy since she was 4 years old. (Photo: Yuqing Zhu)

As I leap into a grand jeté, I listen to the rapid staccato of the piano. Before I can think about keeping my shoulders down and lengthening my arms in arabesque, I already feel my toes brushing the ground. As I land, corrections are already popping out of my teacher’s mouth. I look forward to them as a chance to improve. Welcome to the other side of me – my ballet life.

Since age 4, I have danced at Houston Ballet Academy. For many years, we merely practiced basic positions. Only when I advanced to Level 2 as an 8 year old could I audition for the role of a party child in Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Happily, I got the role.

However, I realized ballet wasn’t just the pink, fluffy dream I had envisioned as a little kid. I saw that the principal dancers still had to rehearse to get every step just right. At Level 4, I was selected into Houston Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet as a market girl. I practiced constantly, even when I was waiting backstage. Along with the nightly rehearsals, I had ballet class three times a week. Each performance grew my love for ballet.

Of course, there are many challenges. For example, I always wanted pointe shoes. Since Level 4, I began dancing in them – and learned it is hard work! I had to perfect the arch of my foot to dance well en pointe and often came home with red, sore feet. Now in Level 5, I have ballet classes four times a week – and homework from school too. The technique is harder, and I have to control all my muscles correctly while remembering the exercises; our teacher only shows the moves once, though we can ask questions. But, as dancer Misty Copeland said, “You create your own destiny.”

It’s not easy, but I love the freedom of expressing through my body. I am happiest when dancing in the HBA studios, overlooking downtown Houston through the glass windows. In the current level, I also get to take additional classes in jazz, character and modern, which I really enjoy.

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