These girls have serious moves. I can't wait to do this one in full color, so check back soon for the results! But until then keep reading for a childhood flashback caused by this drawing:
I lived in Germany for a few years when I was young and my mom enrolled me in ballet. I don't remember if I asked her to or not, but either way there I was, feeling totally awkward in a leotard and tights. Ballet uses French words for the various positions and moves, which meant that the teacher was either speaking French or German, and both were foreign to me. So I choose a spot at the front of the classroom, thinking that if I could be closer to the teacher I could absorb what she was doing more effectively. That seemed to work a little bit. I didn't feel completely incapable. But then at some point she assumed we all knew the poses based on verbal commands, and she started walking around while calling out commands. This meant that not only was I totally lost, I was also equally terrified that she would stop and attempt to correct my horrible posture one more time. She always left me with a look of dissatisfaction, but hey, she was German...and I was the clueless American. It was understandable. So the following week, I thought I had figured it out. I quietly picked a spot in the back of the classroom, hand gripped tightly on the barre, thinking I could get by unnoticed. Genius. I would just follow the other girls, and I'd be fine. But the nature of following other people, means that you're always one step behind. So all of sudden I'm facing a classroom of girls that are facing me. She had told everyone to turn around, and I hadn't understood. Bummer. Genius plan failed again. So I sheepishly turned around, but then I was stuck looking over my shoulder trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing with my silly arms and legs, all the while trying to avoid eye contact with the other girls. I hated ballet.*** Can we go climb trees now? I'm much better at that.
***I was not so scarred from this experience that I quit dancing all together. I still love dancing, just not formally. And I love people that can dance, and fully appreciate people that are able to express themselves with this beautiful art form. That's probably all my mom was hoping for anyways.