by Shawna Sellmeyer (Mid-term project for Spring 2012)
Erin Throop (“The Dancer”) starts off her day a bit behind schedule. Waking up at about 10:15 am, Erin swings her feet off the bed, pauses to take some deep breaths, and eventually stands up to begin her day (“Waking Up”). Today, Erin will be going to the dance studio in Mundelein in order to get some practice in. This task has become somewhat of a routine for Erin since she has been dancing and performing ballet since the age of four – a total of 17 years. Although it may seem tedious, Erin declares ballet is her passion in life; if it weren’t her passion, she wouldn’t be devoting so much of her time to it. Being a ballerina has become a part of her identity.
After stumbling around the bedroom, trying to wake herself up, Erin makes her way for the bathroom to brush her teeth and put her hair in a bun – the distinctive way ballerinas do their hair (“The Bun”). Erin recalls that when she was young, she would cry when her mother would do her hair for recitals and practices. “My mom would pull my hair so tightly, so not only did it hurt, but I absolutely hated the way I looked”, Erin explains. After this anecdote, I can’t help but notice that Erin’s bun is messy with stray hairs; perhaps she does this on purpose after years of having ‘perfect’ and painful buns done by her mom.
Erin then goes into her kitchen to make coffee – something that she can’t live without. “I find myself getting huge headaches on the days in which I don’t have coffee… that’s how addicted I’ve become to it!” Erin explains as she grabs a coffee filter (“Morning Routine”). After hitting the “Start” button on her coffee machine, Erin takes a moment to stretch (“Morning Light”). These simple moves will aid her when it comes to dancing later.
After a cup (or two) of coffee and a bowl of cereal, Erin is out the door and on her way to Mundelein. With her bright pink ballet shoes in hand, Erin walks through the dirty alleyways (“On the Move”). About fifteen minutes later, Erin has arrived at the dance studio and begins to physically transform into the dancer. She first changes into her dance clothes in the bathroom and then returns to the dance studio to switch out her everyday shoes for her ballet flats (“Juxtaposition” and “Tying”). After stretching for some time, Erin finally begins to practice her technique in front of the mirrors in the studio (“Three Perspectives”).
Today is a typical day for Erin, the ballerina.
