I got my first pointe shoes when I was 27. And as more adults discover the enjoyment and benefits of ballet, the number of mature dancers going for their first pointe shoe fitting is increasing. But we’re not their market. The main demographic for new pointe shoes has, and will always been teenagers. This can … [Read more…]
In mid-2022, I reached a milestone: 10 years of adult ballet classes. I started ballet when I was 26, after my gym closed down and I didn’t like any of the alternative gyms on offer. With a 90 minute commute home from work, outdoor sport was out of the question and I thought dancing would … [Read more…]
The vitamin aisle at the pharmacy is overwhelming. Rows and rows of small bottles displayed by brand, not by content. I have to walk up and down multiple times to find what I want. I try to catch the eye of a staff member but no one comes. I see one helping a father and … [Read more…]
Re-posting a blog I wrote in 2014. As adult ballet becomes more popular around the world, I’ve seen an increasing amount of gatekeeping on the word “ballerina” and a claim from some that it’s the exclusive domain of professionals. It’s not. Ballerina baləˈriːnə A female ballet dancer. Origin: late 18th century: from Italian, feminine of ballerino ‘dancing master’, … [Read more…]
My pointe shoes are healing. Mindful. I take them out of their bag (pink mesh, tied with a ribbon), feeling the cool satin, and move the ribbons to each side of the shoe, smoothing them out to make sure they’re not twisted. I adjust the seam of my tights so it doesn’t cut into my … [Read more…]
Asking the question, What if Hillary Rodham hadn’t married Bill Clinton?, Rodham speculates a future for Hillary and explores what contemporary politics in the US could look on the other side of a sliding doors moment. This is one of those rare books where if you’re not feeling it at the start, it’s worth persevering. … [Read more…]
A “summer reading list” is a list of wishful thinking. A pipe dream of lazy summer days by the beach or the pool, or even on the couch with a cold beer. The reality? More of the same we’ve had for the rest of the year, just hotter (and in 2020, less covid lockdowns). But, … [Read more…]
This is my non-entry in the Townsville City Council Short Story Competition on the theme “My life in the North”. Just because I’m not eligible to enter doesn’t mean I can’t write something. The fan whirred. Click. Click. It’s uneven. A wobble each rotation. I can’t remember the last time I slept in silence. A … [Read more…]
This book deserves more attention. The concept is excellent. A fictional artist, Edna Cranmer, and her unnamed biographer, alternating time periods to tell their interwoven lives. It subtly tackles class boundaries, the status of women, and the complex relationship between memory, legacy, and truth. The way the story moves and flows and drops hints, then … [Read more…]
If you toss an unbiased coin, the chance of landing tails each time is 50%. But, if you toss an unbiased coin 12 times, the chance of landing tails every time is 0.02%. That’s a bit like what lockdown has been like for me. On a given weekend, it’s not unusual for me to spend … [Read more…]