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…]
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…]
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…]