Never too Old

When I was in 8^th grade everybody in the class of 120-or-30-some-odd students had to participate in a career fair. We each had to select a career in which we were interested, or what we wanted to “be” when we grew up, to research and present at the “fair.” At the time I was really into figure skating. I never had taken any lessons, but in the winter I would skate on our frozen pond with the cheap pair of skates my mom got me for Christmas one year. I would watch every televised competition or event, and I knew who every figure skater was and what their strengths, weaknesses, and “signature” moves were. But at 13-going-on-14 I knew I was too old to be a competitive figure skater, especially since I’d never had any formal training and all those people on T.V. had been training practically since they could walk. However, I had an eye for artistry, so I figured I could make it as a choreographer. And that’s what I chose for my 8^th grade career fair project. From my research, I learned that choreographers often start off as dancers who also usually begin learning their trade at a young age; yet another thing in which I had no experience. So after the career fair I pretty much scratched that idea because I figured I was too old to start. Sad, huh? Since then my career plans, or more accurately “ideas,” have jumped from Artist to Archaeologist to Art Historian to Illustrator to Costume Designer to (Movie) Set Designer to Pediatric Endocrinologist to Diabetes Educator to Personal Trainer to Special Effects Make-up Artist to Sculptor to Actress. Now, I find myself taking circus arts classes and sincerely wanting to attend as a student in one of the full programs; the current objective seems to be Circus Artist/Performer/Instructor. The story ripens from here. So, the New England Center for Circus Arts is in an old mill building which also houses many other crafters and businesses. There is an Open House the first weekend of December (2^nd-4^th) 2011. During the Open House, on Saturday December 3rd at 4:00 pm, there is an informal, low-key, FREE winter recital of the non-program students (those of us who take the evening classes but are not enrolled in either the Intensive or Pro-Track Programs). So, I signed up to perform on the German Wheel. It’s really just to show community members what NECCA has to offer and then on Sunday they actually have a chance to try some sample classes. But still, here I now find myself going over the tricks that I know and how to put them together in some sort of sequence; in short, I am taking my first shot at choreography for my first public performance on the German Wheel. They say you’re never too old, and I wish I had listened when I was a wee 13-year-old-babe.