Beyond Ordinary

I’ve always enjoyed classical music and I love the opera. But I never really liked the ballet.

It always seemed boring to me. I do appreciate the strict regimen required to develop the level of flexibility and strength. I also love that it is a sport and an art. I’m not trying to put its value or importance down by any means.

I’m just saying that I don’t enjoy it.

Let’s change that to didn’t.

Over ten years ago, my parents convinced me to go out on a school night (yes, I know how convoluted that sounds, but things worked slightly differently in my household.) I complained that I didn’t like ballet and I had an exam the next morning, was it really a good idea for me to see this?

“Trust me,” said my mom, “you’ll like it.”

So I went and it was one of the most amazing nights of my life.

This wasn’t just any ballet, it was the Bolshoi.

I was so mesmerized by the performance that I’m sure I forgot to breathe at times.

Maybe ballet didn’t have to be so boring after all.

A few years later, yet another legend visited Turkey and this time my mom didn’t need to mention it twice. If Baryshnikov wanted to come to Istanbul, there wasn’t a way I was missing it. I watched him from the sixth row and I didn’t dare blink.

So when my friend Natalia called me to say that he was performing in Brooklyn, I leapt at the chance of being swept away in his magic once more.

Last night’s performance was quite different than the one I’d seen around a decade ago. Baryshnikov and his dance group, the White Oak Dance Project, were honoring the Judson Dance Theater dancers. The performance was much more modern than I anticipated but it certainly didn’t disappoint me.

On the contrary, it overwhelmed me. I watched hungrily, eating up the energy and creativity that poured out of these incredibly talented people. I envied their freedom and joy.

Most of all, I envied their boldness. These people are some of the best ballet dancers in the world, yet they don’t perform Swan Lake and other classical acts. They express themselves in their own original ways. There are acts where people are simply walking from one end of the stage to another, not even using their dance skills. They’re urging you to think out of the box and change your preconceived notions. Your expectations.

I have the utmost respect for them. Not only because of their talent and vigor.

But because they dare to be different.

Previously? Strangers.