I have decided to write about one of my favourite semiotic domains despite the fact that am hardly a part of it anymore. Or perhaps I am in some sort of way, but not in the way that I used to be.
When I was a little girl my mom took me to see the ballet. When I saw the images of dancing sugar plums, nutcrackers and snow flakes it seemed clear to me that this performance could be nothing other than the product of magic. Immediately upon seeing the wonders of the lights, hearing the wonders of the music and feeling the wonders of this magic I fell completely in love. I wanted nothing more than to be a part of this magic. I knew in my child’s mind that if I could not become one of the ballerinas up on that stage, my life would never be complete. So in order to complete my life my wonderful mother enrolled me in ballet lessons at The Canton Ballet. At the age of six, the completion of my life began.
I danced with the Canton Ballet for eleven years. I was an awkward dancer compared to the other girls who seemed to be so petite and somehow, more perfect. But I loved ballet, despite the fact that it didn’t take me long to know the blood and sweat of hard work from discipline, and unknown magic. I was quickly disenchanted.
Words like tendu, plie and releve took on meaning and I knew when to stretch my leg forward and point my toe, bend my knees and, rise onto pointe. These things were drilled into my skull so deeply, that I could be seen in the school hallways doing ballet, and I wouldn’t even realize it.
Ballet is one of my favourite semiotic domains because it had a great impact on my life. Even though I rarely dance these days some of my best friends are people from my affinity group (look at me using vocabulary) at the Canton Ballet. Ballet is still very much a part of who I am. I’m not one of those dancers who started dancing as soon as I could walk, or went onto a school of dance after high school, but it instilled a love for performing in me, off and on stage. Singing, dancing, acting and playing music became what I was all about. And if you pay attention you’ll probably notice me still standing in first or fifth position every now and then. Yup yup.
~Nadia
So hooray for ballet.
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1 comment:
I think it's really intersting how we can associate ourselves with semiotic domains that we aren't actively involved in anymore like you and ballet. Even though you don't dance anymore, you still have a huge appreciation for it and can still relate to it. I dont know...I guess when I think of semiotic domains I always think of the things I do now. Not the things I used to do even though I still have a love for them.
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