Two Essays by Adrienne G. Cannon: Music and Medicare & Another Era

Another Era

She always chose a place at the corner of the barre. From that spot in the studio a dancer was not compelled to view her reflection continually in the wall mirror. No doubt recognizing that she could not project the slender and graceful line that is the goal of professional dancers, from this angle she could look at herself just occasionally to check the placement of her torso and the angle of her arms.

The class was for “Ballet for Adults” and we were group of moms in our 40s and 50s. We were astounded to learn that she was ... 70 years old! How could she be that old and still come to dance class and do the barre exercises? She carried herself with a certain aplomb knowing well that she probably looked awkward to the rest of us.

She had the body of an aging woman — the protruding tummy, the slightly bowed back, the arms and legs of a woman who had walked through many life experiences and could not quite form the graceful ballet hand that takes many years to master. We watched her with curiosity as she gamely worked her way through each class seeming to take the same pleasure from her workout as we did.

We were in awe of her. When we talked to her she was full of opinions and politically active. She often spoke of her volunteer work as a member of the Hemlock Society. Then, one day, someone asked, “Where is she?” Our friend had not come back to class for many months. Perhaps, speculated some, she had a terrible disease or she had grown too old to dance and had become depressed. Others, who were wary of her participation in the group that spoke about death, were certain she had followed the rules and taken her own life.

Now it is we who are 70 ... and still going to ballet class. We love the discipline as our aging friend did. It is we who are the awkward looking older ladies who prefer not to look in the mirror. But we are, as she was, compelled to return regularly to succumb to the lilting melodies and rhythms of classical ballet music. Wherever she is today, she would be pleased to know she served us as a role model. If she could do it, then so can we. Neither she nor we should be depressed as she has shown us the way to keep on dancing. We honor her with the spirit she inspired in us as we return to ballet class week after week.

Illustration: Classical Bell Tutus in The Dance Class by Degas, 1874.

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Two Essays by Adrienne G. Cannon: Music and Medicare & Another Era

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