Dancing Through Life.

Straightening my hair last night felt like a dream. I wore my Russian heels and Natalie’s leg warmers. We put on makeup and had a small photo shoot before we left. Our heels clanked on the cement as we made our way to the Metro station. The strong Russian wind blew our skirts up. We giggled as we walked arm and arm. Old men gave us ‘up downs’ as we passed. It was a girls night on the town. We were on our way to the ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre. 

Upon arrival to the Bolshoi Theatre, we were greeted by men in suits and women in glittering dresses. We entered the metal detector into the beautifully extravagant lobby. Crystal chandeliers sparkled with every photo flash. Women in dresses, men in their suits. It was a extraordinary sight to be seen. 

We begin to take photos of our group, and this Asian tourist begins to take a photo of us. He takes a few more as we look at him awkwardly. Eventually he asks to take a photo with us as he looks up at Laura and says, “Tall girl.” We laugh; Laura turns red. He goes to check his coat and we follow his lead. When we check our coats, the lady speaks to us in English. I don’t think we’re in Nizhnii anymore. We grab our opera glasses and head up to the first balcony where we discover that our Asian tourist friend is only one row in front of us.

The orchestra begins to tune as beautiful dresses and suits take their seats in the extravagant theatre. The grand chandelier dims and the orchestra strikes up the first measure of music; the green curtain parts in the middle and the ballet begins. Giselle takes the stage and the audience bursts out in wild claps. With each turn and twist, the audience is captivated by the graceful movements of the ballerina. Random shouts of ‘Bravo!’ are to be heard after every impressive move she makes. As I sit on the first balcony leaning forward with my opera glasses, I think to myself: I have arrived. I’m sitting here with Moscow’s elite watching Giselle at the best ballet theatre in the whole world. 

Ballerinas dance around Giselle and her lover as the music escalates, and their toe shoes echo with the music as they gracefully float around the stage. Their tu-tus glitter in perfection and their smiles reveal their gleaming white teeth. Giselle runs toward her lover and he lifts her with ease as if she were a feather. Their emotions linger in the air as Giselle gracefully touches the stage once again. Her toe shoes make two small and beautiful thumps on the hollow stage. Arms at perfect angles and her toes as a point, and she’s off. The stage is her playground as she expresses her love through dance. 

The ballet ends tragically beautiful, and standing ovations occur. As the lead characters take their bow, Giselle is given three large bouquets of flowers from the audience. Her small arms can barely wrap her arms around the roses. They take their bow several times. The curtains open and close. ‘Bravo!’s were being shouted as the crowd clapped in unison. Giselle and her lover crept out of the closed curtain for one final bow. The grand chandelier lit up once again; Moscow’s suits and dresses exited the theatre. We grabbed our coats and embraced before we left the theatre. My heart was filled with joy as we entered the Metro station and headed back to our hotel for some peaceful dreams. I only wish that I could dance through life as Giselle had done.