Ballet Slippers
Ballet slippers are as important to the dancer as the ballet itself. Pink and fresh, with tiny bows adorning the top, they appear to be the epitome of girlishness. But appearances can be deceiving, as a true dancer knows ballet slippers are symbolic of womanhood, strong and tough, yet beautiful and soft. My ballet slippers are motherly guardians, caretakers if you will, to my feet. They create lifelong memories, endure through years of hard work, and start out beautiful, but age gracefully.
My ballet slippers have danced my feet through years of memories. They have danced me through all my triumphs and failures. My first recital, my good and bad auditions, dance camp, they've supported me through it all. Even at times when I felt no one was there, no one was watching me, they were. They will always be. My ballet slippers will dance just as long and hard as I do, for all of my dancing days.
My mother, my guardian, has worked hard to take care of me every day of my life, and my ballet slippers have done nothing less than the same for me every dancing moment. Loyally attending every dance class, patiently coping through repetitive plies, flying through jumps and leaps; my ballet slippers could coax admiration from the most diligent blue-collar worker. Only after they've done their job to the fullest, do they retire to their dance bag, restfully waiting for their next task to be assigned.
My ballet slippers started out beautiful and softer than the most delicate silk. Smoother than the most flawless glass, they were truly a work of art, meant to be looked at and admired. A rosy pink, like a young mother's cheeks, they appeared delicate and dainty. But beauty fades with age, and my ballet slippers have aged ever so gracefully. Slowly they lost their vibrant color and shiny luster. They began their mid-life. Then the cracks and folds in their flawless surfaces began to appear and become numerous as they become older, losing their shape, but not their meaning.
Ballet slippers may appear to be many things, but really they are more than most people could ever imagine. They're guardians, protectors, that create memories and work hard, simply do not lose their beauty but trade in their perfection for character without compromising their meaning. They are treasured pieces of art that should be handled and used with great respect.
Destiny Alton
Photo by: Barrett's Photography, Ransom, IL