I have started and restarted this post a number of times. I think I have to accept that this is just going to be a somewhat awkward post. It’s meant to be an introduction to a new project, but it’s also kind of a brainstorm. The last time I did a project, it was completely planned out. This one is going to be completely freestyle and evolving.
If you’re new, hello. My name is Lauren. I’m a published author and a huge ballet nerd. A few years ago, I did a really fun project I called “Ballet Marvel” in which I dressed as ballet versions of my favorite Marvel characters and profiled my favorite ballet dancers and ballets. It was a lot of fun and people seemed to enjoy it. Most importantly, it was really healing for me. You see, I’m neurodivergent and when I was little, I was actively discouraged from being interested in ballet. I was told it wasn’t for people like me. That I would never be able to understand and appreciate it.
That I would be bothering the people who it was for.
It was only when I went away to college and met my best friend that I was introduced to the world of ballet, a world that would become my sanctuary. A world that would eventually save me during one of the darkest periods of my life.
For the past few years, I have wanted to do another project related to ballet, something small that I could do while working on my sixth manuscript. I thought about how often I hear friends and others say ballet seems interesting but it just seems too high-minded, too inaccessible. Something only for the wealthy.
And I have been told more than once even now that nobody would be interested in my thoughts on ballet. Because I’m not a critic or a dancer or a choreographer. I’m just a working class nerd who loves ballet. What could I possibly add to the conversation?
And I’m the type of stubborn bitch where if you tell me I can’t do something, I will absolutely do it.
Now, before I get into what I’m planning to do, I want to speak briefly about the fundraiser, which is part of this whole project. I wrote briefly about it on my Ko-Fi page, which is where I’m raising the funds. Basically, my abusive former boss is making it very difficult for me to find a secondary source of income and I desperately need to raise fund to see one of my all-time favorite dancers, Ed Watson, perform.
Ed Watson is a phenomenal dancer and the only dancer who has brought me to tears with a performance. He’s going to be performing in A Single Man in September and tickets go on sale in July. I’m planning to travel there to see one (maybe two) of the performances. I will obviously be blogging about the entire experience.
I also happened to notice that the Scottish Ballet (another company that I love) has a new original production on at the same time about Mary, Queen of Scots. Which I would positively love to see. I’ve never been to Scotland and I’m quite interested in Mary, Queen of Scots.
However, in order to do this, I need to raise some funds. The economy is already in a downward spiral and that’s without my predator boss making things even more difficult. Which led me to my idea.
BALLET PROJECT
Basically, I decided that I’m going to write daily about a variety of ballet topics. I think I’ll mostly talk about productions, probably some dancers and choreographers. Every now and again, I might talk about something in regards to popular culture. For example, I’m planning to see “Ballerina” from the John Wick universe while I’m in Phoenix. I have some ballet-related books I might review. I’m planning to go to the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago to see Alice’s Adventures in Wonder
There are a few things I would positively love to do but I don’t think I have the technical know-how to do so. For example, I have a lot of cool artist friends and I would positively love to talk to some of them about ballet via video call or something along those lines. But again, that’s something that I would have to look into, so that’s definitely a maybe.
I would love to talk to someone who works for a ballet company (be it a dancer, choreographer, musician, pianist, etc.), but seeing as how I’m just a tiny little indie author, I very much doubt this is likely to happen.
Next week, I’m planning to take a look at some ballets by Matthew Bourne.
I’ll be posting a reminder about the fundraiser at the beginning and end of each blog post. Thank you so much for reading and I hope I can introduce more people to the wild beautiful world of ballet.
If you want to help me achieve my dream, please donate to my fundraiser: I’m Sad, I’m Gay, Help Me See This Ballet