There it was. Audition.
Wanted: 100 dancers
for three months prep
to perform in Boston’s Copley Square.
No experience required.
I did the same thing,
twenty years ago
in Iowa.
Auditioned.
And was selected to perform.
Ninety-nine hoofer-wanna-bees
plus Gene Kelly and me.
Thousands watched us
in the Big-Ten half-time show
or took a trip for hotdogs
and the john.
So I did it. Again.
And made it.
Again.
Ninety-nine plus me
two nights every week.
Loud fast rehearsals
with slow
every day repeats
at home
to video
online.
I should have known.
I was twenty years older
not newer
and certainly not digital.
One month to go.
On our burgundy shag carpet
five-six-seven-eight
and again
right-turn-slide-spin.
Repeat at studio
on unforgiving wooden floor.
Five-six-seven-eight……
Crap.……dancer down.
Legs sag. Muscles be damned.
Relegated to RICE.
Rest-Ice-Compression-and-
– – oh hell. I forget
what the E stands for.
Originally posted on March 23, as Self-Portrait: Dancer Down, just my third post ever….revisited and revised. No Likes then, no comments, two followers (my family members)!
lillian the home poet 
Yes, I do remember your effort and your enthusiasm for the BIG performance. You even demonstrated some of the routine for me while I was staying with you in March of 2014. It was your joy in dance, that motivated me to take a once a week dance class at my gym. I go every Thursday since May of 2014 and I enjoy it. Thursday is my favorite day of the week and I can thank you for that. Hugs to you! Joyce
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Did not know you dance every week! Fabulous! You’ll be ready when Dancing with the Stars runs auditions in Missouri :). Fun!
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Now this is as inspirational as an Alaskan sky at sunset! I think you have what is called feisty fortitude with a whole lot of courage thrown in followed by wisdom when ice is applied!
am:)
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Hah! Love your reply!
Just finished some water aerobics in a large timbered lodge pool – alone in this magnificent space with windows to the mountains and glaciers! Now that’s a small piece of heaven on earth 🙂
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🙂
You go girlfriend!
timber aerobics!
I’m beyond jealous darn it!
am:)
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