{"id":1887,"date":"2015-08-04T10:52:50","date_gmt":"2015-08-04T10:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/?p=1887"},"modified":"2015-08-04T10:52:50","modified_gmt":"2015-08-04T10:52:50","slug":"a-russian-ballet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/?p=1887","title":{"rendered":"A Russian Ballet"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the age of sixty, the occasions are few and further between when I feel like a “little girl at heart.” \u00a0 Imagining myself attending a Russian ballet–in Russia–is one of these occasions.<\/p>\n

During a time of ballet lessons, pirouetting, leotards and standing on my toes (though not very well, or for very long) I,\u00a0like many other little girls, imagined life as a real prima ballerina. \u00a0I practiced spinning, twirling and leaping across my bedroom floor as if it were a real stage. \u00a0 But just as my ballet slippers ended up lovingly tucked away into a corner of my dresser, memories of that time period were similarly folded up and placed \u00a0into a back corner of my mind. \u00a0There they remained, “wispy, long-forgotten memories,” until now. \u00a0 Knowing that Russia’s first ballet school began here in St. Petersburg–using two rooms of the Tsar’s Winter Palace–I had to at least try to\u00a0secure tickets to one of the ballets.<\/p>\n

Asking the very kind concierge if she might be able to secure two tickets to one of the ballet performances, she tilted her head, smiled, and replied, “I’ll do my best” in her thick Russian accent. \u00a0 Though tickets were sold out, she might be able to find two. \u00a0 A few days later, while walking through the lobby, the concierge proudly announced, “I have your ballet tickets.” \u00a0 Smiling big I thanked her for both her\u00a0effort<\/em> and\u00a0success<\/em>. \u00a0 \u00a0While discussing transportation details for the ballet I inquired if she’d seen the ballet. \u00a0Wistfully she replied, “Once, many years ago.”<\/p>\n

At 5,000 rubles each, these ballet tickets are a luxury item, not a necessity. \u00a0I know I’m blessed in so many ways. \u00a0It’s a lifelong dream to just visit Russia let alone attend the ballet.<\/p>\n

The next evening the hotel driver dropped us off at the front entrance of the Mikhailovsky Theatre and confirmed his return to the same location once the performance ended.<\/p>\n

\"Mikhailovsky<\/a><\/p>\n

Exchanging tickets for entrance, we stepped through the glass doors into a brightly lit, beautiful (and very busy) lobby.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0455\"<\/a>

Treasured tickets to the ballet!<\/p><\/div>\n

Following the crowd, I checked my coat, received an English version of the ballet program, and found the correct seats. \u00a0I’m here. \u00a0The little girl<\/em> inside of me wants to jump up and down in delight! \u00a0I closed my eyes and thanked God for this amazing blessing.<\/p>\n

Looking around the theater, the majority attending were couples between the ages of thirty and sixty. \u00a0People watching–a few families sat down with their young children; a scattering of elderly women were ushered to their seats; and up in the balcony, a large group of college aged students drew attention to themselves by talking “a little too loudly.”<\/p>\n

Finally, the\u00a0ballet began. \u00a0Except for the intermission all eyes focused on the ballerinas leaping gracefully across the stage floor. \u00a0Without\u00a0speaking or understanding Russian–the ballet told the story of Romeo and Juliet. \u00a0The orchestra played beautifully; the sets appeared exquisite; and the dancing, beyond perfection. \u00a0As the dancers bowed to the clapping, I finally snapped a few photos.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0457\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As the lights brightened, the final curtains closed and the patrons exited the theatre I thought about the long hours each ballerina practiced to be able to dance so beautifully. \u00a0After all the years of dancing, does it still elicit the same joy as when each ballerina began as a child? \u00a0I hope so.<\/p>\n

Though I’ve always loved dancing, it’s harder and harder to do so the older I become. \u00a0I know I am not a ballerina but as a child I loved moving to any music. \u00a0Now I’m much more self conscious; I feel clumsy, off balance and not very graceful. \u00a0Yet under the right circumstances I feel at ease dancing.<\/p>\n

My heavenly Father wants me to praise Him by dancing and making music before His throne.<\/p>\n

Exodus 15:20,\u00a0“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I am not a singer or musician, but when I praise God with my voice I feel Him near.<\/p>\n

Psalm 149:3, “Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Psalm 150:4,\u00a0“Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Over and over, throughout both the Old and New Testament we are given examples of those who danced before the Lord. \u00a0David, a man chosen by God to be King of Israel; brave enough to slay Goliath using only a slingshot and stone; and a man, unafraid to publicly<\/em> display his joy towards a forgiving and loving Lord. \u00a0God “knew” David.<\/p>\n

Acts 13:22, “…I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.”<\/em><\/p>\n

2 Samuel 6:14, “And David danced before the LORD with all his might….”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

David wasn’t perfect. \u00a0He was a sinner: he took another man’s wife to bed with him; and attempted to cover up his sin by placing him in a battle where he’d be killed. \u00a0 Finding God’s forgiveness, David publicly danced for the Lord.<\/p>\n

1 Chronicles 15:29,\u00a0“And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal, the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing…”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Imagine the King of Israel “dancing and playing” as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into his city. \u00a0God came near. \u00a0David couldn’t contain himself. \u00a0He danced. \u00a0Despite all his failures in life, David danced…unencumbered. \u00a0He didn’t care who saw him.<\/p>\n

Years ago, I invited Jesus to live in my heart. \u00a0I don’t need to wait for an ark to pass by or enter my city. \u00a0God is already inside of me<\/em>. \u00a0So when the world crushes my spirit or I focus upon my own sins and failures, it is easy to retreat into a “dark place” and refrain from singing or dancing. \u00a0But all I need to do is admit my sins and accept His forgiveness. \u00a0He loves me.<\/p>\n

Psalm 30:4-5, “Sing praise to the LORD…For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Forgiveness leads to Joy. \u00a0Joy causes me to sway, twirl and even sing aloud. \u00a0I am loved. \u00a0I dance–not like a ballerina, but as a woman forgiven and loved by a majestic, Almighty God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the age of sixty, the occasions are few and further between when I feel like a “little girl at heart.”   Imagining myself attending a Russian ballet–in Russia–is one of these occasions. During a time of ballet lessons, pirouetting, leotards and standing on my toes (though not very well, or for very long) I, like… <\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[134,135,1],"tags":[149,59,153,151,152,137,150,136],"class_list":["post-1887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russia","category-st-petersburg","category-uncategorized","tag-ballet","tag-god-hears-our-prayers","tag-gods-forgiveness","tag-mikhailovsky-theatre","tag-romeo-and-juliet-ballet","tag-russia","tag-russian-ballerina","tag-st-petersburg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1887"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1907,"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1887\/revisions\/1907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}