Ballet

Well, I did go to see an opera . . . . . and I suggested that the ballet might be next . . . . and it almost was.

Our condo complex here in Toronto is called RadioCITY. It is an interesting place, and unique in many aspects. It is called ‘RadioCITY”, because it was built on the site of CBC’s original radio tower. Apparently part of the complex was originally a convent and the nuns in the convent made a deal with the developer so that the retired nuns were given one entire floor of the condo for the former residents of the convent. They actually live on the floor under us, and although I am not at all religious, somehow having the nuns living downstairs is comforting, and we never have to complain about noisy parties or loud music. Attached to the complex is the National Ballet School, and we often see students or instructors relaxing on a rooftop terrace outside our windows and we see students coming and going to their school. We always wondered what went on in the school and would’ve liked to go to the theatre to see a performance, but when we researched it, we were unable to find any performances we could attend. 

This historical house was incorporated
into the school

On Sunday however, the Ballet School had a Block Party and opened the school to visitors and we eagerly went to see inside the school. 

The Block Party really was a big event. There was a giant Bouncy Ride in the lane between the buildings and it was busy all day with happy laughing children. The driveway out front of the school was used for more games and an area was cleared for special dance events scheduled all day. The ballet store had sales on clothes and those special fancy ballet shoes. Inside the building four floors were open and we could wander around and get some idea of life in a ballet school. I was even able to convince the security personal to let me go up to the V.I.P. area which was out on the school rooftop balcony so I could take a picture of our condo from there. 

The school theatre, the Betty Oliphant Theatre, was open all day for on-going student practices and the public was invited in to watch these open practices. We went in and watched two practice sessions. We caught the later part of a senior student ballet class which was very high level ballet done by ten male students. Then a large group of grade nine students came out for a “contemporary” dance lesson. We were very impressed with these students. They were just beginning the class with this instructor and some of the students had learned the moves just before coming into the theatre. Watching these young dancers we were impressed with their progression. The entire group were introduced to a totally new move and we were able to watch them go from learning to actually mastering the dance moves they were taught. Unfortunately this was a “No Photo” event so I do not have any photos of the actual dancing. 

Inside the school

So now, as I look out of the condo onto the dance school, I view it differently since I now know a little of what is going on in there.