Beauty And Grace Always Come With Pain (private, selfmod)

[Sviyinn Cylestrel]

Basic Ballet OOC Links: (will be added)

15th of Tempris, Autumn, Era XVI pf

Where would someone find a ballet instructor? Sviyinn was walking through the streets of Jaedaxia, pale and graceful as the winter itself, her cloak nearly brushing the frozen ground. It was still morning, the suns had barely risen above the rooftops. This time she carried a small bag with her which bore some of the most important goods she possessed: A leotard, tights and a pair of soft leather slippers, equipment her mother had given her to learn ballet.

Perhaps she should be grateful that her mother had even allowed her to dance. Sviyinn could imagine that other people would see it as primitive and senseless. If she hadn't seen a couple of very talented dancers herself, she would possibly think the same way. But she could tell from her own experience: Ballet was something higher, highly expressive and beautiful. Gods, it would be no surprise if Diana herself had brought it to Telath. So light, so free! Sviyinn truly fell in love with that art more and more.

The only problem was to find a teacher, someone who was willing to drill and train her. It wouldn't be easy, but she was ready. Now, where could she find an experienced instructor?

In one candlemark she had already browsed through half the Southern Quarter, asked at the grand Université and visited a few upper-class taverns. Classic dance styles were taught everywhere, but nobody could provide something as special as ballet. Perhaps she should change her attitude and look for theatres? Back at Ethgan'tor her mother had taken her to a few performances to “strengthen her sense for cultural important” things.

So let's see, there is the Puppet Theatre, the Music Hall and La Grandiose Théatre. The first two ones are probably for the ordinary folk, or at least they sound like that. Sviyinn had never visited one herself yet, being too busy with moving in and having arguments with her sister. She really planned to open a carving business! To live a life covered with dust and people looking down at her!

Anyway, the Esh'lahier quickly made her way towards the Grandiose Théatre. A few moments she allowed herself to inspect the impressing architecture. Jaedaxia felt similar to Ethgan'tor in many ways, yet it was totally different. The holy city of the Shadow Elves had been a secret to the Kingdom for many eras, but Jaedaxia had always been the cultural hot spot and pot of races it was now. People in Jaedaxia knew what they wanted. That impressed Sviyinn somehow.

Upon her request the clerk vanished for a few minutes, perhaps asking for advice from the staff, although Sviyinn didn't expect someone important to be present that early in the morning … and then she came back with a small victory. “Here, this is the adress of our former ballet teacher and choreographer. Perhaps she is willing to help you”, the girl explained and handed a little sheet of paper over to Sviyinn.

Eventually she had a trace! Smiling inwardly, ice blue eyes scanned the street names and numbers until finding the right one. The house looked simple, but not too cheap either. She wondered what kind of person lived inside. Then she knocked.

And waited. And knocked, more determined this time.

Suddenly the door was opened and a woman approached her. “Who are you?” A harsh voice, designed to give instructions. A slender, elegant figure, alabaster skin, ebony hair and a heart-shaped, expressive face. Everything inside Sviyinn screamed: Light Elf!

However, she couldn't let herself be distracted by the woman's race. After clearing her throat, Sviyinn spoke in clear, accentless Common: “Serale. I am Sviyinn Cylestrel and wish you to give me ballet lessons. I'm eager to work hard and become perfect!” She hastily caught herself—never lose control! She didn't trust this impolite woman, although she seemed to be her last chance.

“Well.” She was inspected by dark brown eyes from head to toe. Several times. Then the woman waved her in. Sviyinn was relieved. If someone waved you in and offered you tea, you have already won! They sat down at the comfortable Jaedaxian kitchen, and after the first sip of tea—apple taste?—the other elfess came down to business. “My name is Oceane Volonaise, but you will call me Madame Volonaise as long as I am your instructor. First of all, I have to inform you that ballet is a very serious profession. You will have to work hard to earn money with your performances, and it is even harder to become part of a regular ensemble. Daily practice and discipline is essential. I don't give lessons to people who want to do it 'just for pleasure'.” Her voice carried scorn with it. “I expect perfection from each and every one of my students. If you want to become a ballerina, you will have to give up the ordinary life you've lived before. Your new life will consist of practice and hard work. Do you understand me?”

Sviyinn was a little taken aback. She was serious about her request, but she hadn't known much about dancing before. Was it really that difficult? Did she even have a chance to succeed?

Suddenly the door at the other side of the room opened and a red-haired, freckled human girl peered in and said something in Jaedaxian. “Maman? Who is this? I have to talk to you about something important!” The girl carried herself with a natural grace and elegance that indicated that she was taking lessons too. And she had called Madame Volonaise Maman, so … the elfess trained her own, apparently adoptive daughter too.

Sviyinn started to feel even more determined. Of course she would learn faster and become more elegant than a mere human girl!

The mother nodded and sighed impatiently. “Oui, oui, Rose, just wait and be quiet for a moment! This person wants to take lessons.” Sviyinn's ice blue eyes looked back and forth between the two others. Perhaps she should care about learning Jaedaxian soon … No, it was just rude to talk without interpreting to her, a guest!

But then Rose turned around and looked at the Esh'lahier with warm cobalt orbs. “You want to take lessons too, oui? Better be good. I can beat you at any time”, she spat in accented Common, and then the door was shut.

Sviyinn was annoyed. Were human children really educated that poorly? However, the following apologize calmed her down a little.

“Je suis désolé for my daughter's lack of politeness, Miss Cylestrel. She is preparing for an audition at La Grandiose Théatre and has become a bit … full of herself.” She gave a quick apologetic smile. After another sip of tea, she continued: “So, I have to make myself clear: Do you really want to live the life of a ballerina? If the answer is 'yes', we will begin our first lesson right away.”

Sviyinn swallowed and drank some tea, creating time to review what Madame Volonaise had said and what she wanted. It was bad that she hadn't known about all that before, but did that change something about her decision? To be honest, no. She looked the other elfess in the eye. “Yes. I am ready. I will do everything it requires to be a great dancer.”

Madame Volonaise just nodded. While showing her new student the studio and where she could change clothing, she thought to herself: This one possesses the true will. She's a bit old, but perhaps she'll make it.

[Sviyinn Cylestrel]

In the meantime Sviyinn was unpacking the bag she had brought with her and looked at what lay inside. A leotard and ballet slippers, both objects were white and of good quality. For a moment or two she allowed herself to remember her mother and why she had insisted to give these presents to her daughter before saying goodbye. Their relationship had gotten closer somehow, but the time had been too short to enjoy that fact. One brightening later she had left, on her journey to Jaedaxia.

And now she was there, kneeling at the bathroom of her new ballet teacher and her ballerina daughter, and actually able to learn what she had dreamed of since first seeing an ensemble of dancers at the ballroom of her parents’ employers. Perhaps she would earn a lot of money – that was important, but the most important thing was that she would be able to fly and touch the sky above the heads of ordinary people. She would raise over them, become superior. That was her goal.

Anyway, she quickly shrugged such thoughts off, put the leotard on and collected her hair in a tight bun. The slippers were a bit difficult, particularly the ribbons. After some time of silent fighting, she sighed and walked out of the bathroom with bare feet.

Two doors from there she found Madame Volonaise at a small, but bright studio with two huge windows showing a backyard and garden with some beautiful flower pots. Rose wasn’t present, perhaps she had to practice for her oh-so-important audition. The teacher came over immediately and showed Sviyinn how to bind the ribbons correctly.

To be honest, she felt a bit childish sitting on the floor and letting someone else bind her shoes. Like a child, without any skill or knowledge … That was going to change soon! Eventually she bit her lower lip in shock about how tightly the ribbons wrapped around her ankles. “You have to bind them as tightly as possible! Injuries are the death of every dancer’s career, keep that in mind!”, the Madame instructed her harshly. “Also, you have to buy new slippers every month or so and a new pair for each performance. They are good quality, but no pair lasts long, that’s a rule.”

Then the actual lessons started, or so Sviyinn thought. With an excited expression she watched Madame Volonaise, also dressed in leotard and slippers, placing herself at the middle of the studio, raising her hands and beginning to dance.

Time stood still. The great Madame was flowing above the floor, every movement carried perfect grace and elegance, every jump symbolized a dove flying high over the heads of ordinary people. That was what Sviyinn wanted to become, the picture of her dream.

Suddenly the elfess stopped and turned to her pupil. “I want you to dance like this one day”, she stated firmly. Sviyinn felt a bond being knot between them, a bond holding them together until both of them had achieved their goal: making Sviyinn a dancer. The Esh’lahier felt very honored to have such an enthusiastic teacher.

That is, not for long. After the demonstration the real work just began. Of course Sviyinn had to practice the easiest and most important positions first. “They are the base for every dance, every choreography builds upon them”, Madame Volonaise explained.

They started with the foot positions. The first one required Sviyinn’s feet to stand in a perfect line, balls pointing outwards, heels touching. While Sviyinn tried to hold balance and keep the tension, Madame Volonaise was pushing her feet into the position she wanted to see. “More outwards, more tension, and don’t lose balance! I told you so before, didn’t I?”

“Of course, Madame”, Sviyinn muttered and felt like an idiot. Not only an idiot, but a clumsy idiot with two left feet. Of course she still wanted to learn – but how could she make everything right when she was just beginning? Apart from that, being criticized by a light elf didn’t make the situation better!

[Sviyinn Cylestrel]

When the Madame eventually showed an expression close to satisfaction, they moved on to the second position.

To Sviyinn this position seemed a bit easier. The balls of her feet were still turned out, but her heels were separated by the length of one foot. But of course Madame Volonaise had to correct and criticize until Sviyinn’s muscles felt like they would tear apart just the next second.

And so they moved on, Sviyinn striking various stances as perfectly as possible and the Madame telling her what she should improve. The next position included one feet standing firmly with the ball pointed outward and the side of the other touching it at the heel while the fourth one required them to stand one foot apart again. While Sviyinn didn’t get the feeling of improvement she would have liked to experience she started to feel a comfortable numbness covering the muscles of her feet.

“Now we will assume the last foot position!”, Madame stated and demonstrated it with natural grace. Seeing that, Sviyinn reminded herself that she was doing this voluntarily – because she wanted to look as beautiful as her teacher. At the last position her feet looked like being folded in front of each other … Sviyinn thought that some similarities to folding one’s arms couldn’t be denied. Of course the Madame wanted her legs to stand straight and not in that terrible ‘o’-shape.

After having gone through the foot positions, Madame granted Sviyinn a small pause which consisted of drinking tea and talking about her posture a little bit longer. The Esh’lahier felt an urge to raise an eyebrow and just walk away at such a large amount of impoliteness, but after all the rude person in front of her was her teacher, her mistress, her personal goddess for the next few weeks. She gritted her teeth, tried to ignore the exhaustion in her feet and legs and took a sip from the tasteless tea.

“You can’t rely on your natural slimness to impress people. While it is true that there are many known Esh’lahier dancers, that doesn’t mean that they are better suited than other races. Not at all, cherie. If you want to defeat others in a competition or audition, you have to put incredible amounts of practice into every step you take!” Oh, well, Sviyinn didn’t really intend to not practice at all.

“Of course I’ll practice. This will become my job, so daily training is absolutely reasonable”, she replied politely, trying to sound enthusiastic when in fact the woman’s rambling bored her to death.

“Non, non, you don’t understand! For example, my daughter Rose is still attending school, nevertheless she enters the studio as soon as she gets home and starts to practice for the next audition. She shows enough courage, and thus she will make it one brightening. Do you understand? You have to put spirit into every step, you have to burn with the desire to reach perfection.” Sviyinn nodded, although she rather wanted to roll her eyes. Madame Volonaise had repeated herself again. And she always spoke of her daughter as if Rose was the perfect ballerina. She wasn’t even employed yet, so what?!

“Why didn’t she make it so far, if I may ask?”, Sviyinn asked curiously, maintaining her polite façade.

The madame snorted with scorn. “They haven’t discovered her potential yet. One day they will, they have no choice.”

These words actually sounded like the Madame would do everything to make them accept her daughter. Sviyinn felt tempted to laugh, but quickly filled her mouth with tea. As a result she got problems with swallowing and coughed. “I’m sorry”, she muttered and pressed some tissue at her mouth until having calmed down again. Phew, how stressful!