Well, my last post caused a bit of a stir. (I guess I knew it might.) I’d like to just say that I have nothing against guys trying their feet in toe shoes. I understand that it can be a really great part of their training. Julian says he’d like to try one day. So, more power to all the male dancers out there who have or want to or will get up en pointe!
As for me “boycotting” Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, I really do have to pick and choose what dance programs and companies I go see. I can only spend so much money on dance. Just the other day I was telling my husband that we had to spend a little money (despite the fact that he’s about to lose his job) on taking my daughter to the theater; she wants to be a costume designer. We see a lot of dance… So, you see, we have to draw the line somewhere. I drew it at seeing the Trocks. I didn’t say other people shouldn’t go see them. By all means, go!
On a different note, poor Julian faces another one of those no-win decisions. He must choose between having a major role in the school production of A Chorus Line and being in several pieces of choreography with professional choreographers at TDC. Being in A Chorus Line means dropping out of piece he’s already in since two rehearsal dates fall during actual performances–not so great (having to tell a professional choreographer “thanks but no thanks”)–and possibly being in almost no performance pieces for the Spring Concert. It also means he gets to perform with his peers in the high school and show off his talents there, which he hasn’t had a chance to do (good socially, I suppose). Come mid-March, however, when the show is over, he may just be taking class and not rehearsing for anything… except the Los Gatos Ballet spring show, Alice in Wonderland, in which he’ll be the White Rabbit.
He thinks this musical will help him get to Broadway. He’s been told that if his dancing (ballet in particular) is great and he takes voice lessons, the world of dance–including Broadway–will be open to him. His response: “I want to do the musical.”
Ugh. I hate being a parent sometimes. Tonight his dad and I must ask him to look at his long-term and short-term goals and to lay out the pros and cons of his choices. We need to stay emotionally neutral (right…) and help him learn the fine life skill of making choices.
Will he make the right choice? What is the right choice? Can anyone really know? Will he regret his choice? (Should we be making the choice for him? Will we have to when push comes to shove?)
Someone want to take over my job for a little while?
Congrats on the musical! This is a great way to try out the genre. I want to point out though that just taking some voice lessons doesn’t make one a singer just as having natural dance talent doesn’t make one a dancer. A good ear, a voice in the right range (usually baritone or tenor these days for men for mt), and decent musical skills with an ability to read music are quite important. Eight shows a week are very hard on the body and vocal cords. Just as in dance which requires good technique, singing is much the same. If your son is interested in going in that direction, try to find quality voice lessons for him (doesn’t have to be right away as boys’ voices mature over a long period of time) or look into a musical theater program when college rolls around. But I think it might be unwise to assume that “the world of dance–including Broadway–will be open to him” with ballet and some voice lessons unless he’s incredibly gifted in both areas. I wish it were just that simple.