A Metaphorical Death

 I am dying. Not a physical death - I mean, we're all moving towards death, physically, but that's beside the point.

They say that the seed must die in order that the plant, the flower, grows.

These platitudes might mean a lot, might serve as encouragement.   But nobody tells you how painful that death might be.  And how hard it is to see the end of the tunnel, even if you know it's in there somewhere.

The current government's exposed corruption have led the country to take draconian measures against small enterprises and businesses (for fear of repatriation by the larger ones) in an attempt to placate the international community at fears of tax evasion and corruption taking place in this Mediterranean gem.  This has entailed the dismantling of my practice, the end of my freelance work and the entry into full time employment, with the stresses that it brings for persons with my current stance. It's taking it's toll, and I'm always tired.

This has also entailed releasing the office, which had been my first home, since 2011.  It was the home I moved into after my separation, and where I sought solace for these ten long years. Some important books, and precious items (sentimental value) were still there and this final dismantling has been physically and emotionally taxing.  The cramming of all the stuff, from office into my home, has meant decluttering and I have managed to get rid of some belongings, but the rest has had to be bundled into a single household. Again, the stress has been telling and I am without my house-with-the-blue-wall - a blue wall does not fit as well into this house. Or, not in the same way I had it.  It's just not the same, though this house is bigger and houses my books better.

Then, there is the personal aspect.  I've had to give up my idea of what I thought I wanted in a relationship, if I want to hang on to this one. The struggle is real.  I feel tired, demotivated and depressed all the time. On the days we share, I feel on top of the world and that nothing can threaten my well-being. On the days when he is doing his own thing, I feel depleted and upset, perhaps inordinately so. I am rediscovering ways of being and ways of filling my time - and of course, reconstructing my ideas of what I'd like life with a man to look like. I am not sure that I like what I am getting, I am not sure that I dislike it, either.  My intellect tells me it's the way to be, my heart yearns for something a little more integrated and less sporadic.

Always we tell ourselves, this is ground work for better times to come. Sometimes it feels like empty platitudes, and sometimes it feels like encouragement. The constant to-and-fro in my mind - and emotions - is hard to handle and does not help. The man is doing what he needs to be doing and I am being given an opportunity to catch up with my friends and hobbies, something I normally yearn to do. Could it be, that this maladaptation, is a sign of something else?  Deep discontent even if I have things quite like I wanted them ?

This widespread change feels like I'm dying - and yes, pain changes people. It feels like I am losing a lot of what I held on to.  The powerful mind that is now taking over me - or perhaps saving me from fates which would be unsuited to me. Or, the duality that is leading to this constant internal conflict - that I am happy one moment and unhappy the next. I like to hope - and trust - that this is all ground-work for better times but I cannot say I am finding it easy or that I am enjoying the ride.

True Love and Spiritualism

 Whatever nature it takes, love requires management - of one's own way of being first.  To love another, you have to know how to care for yourself first. The old cliche, that you cannot fill from an empty jug, comes to mind, but it is, of course true.

So, based on a recent experience that threw me, I delved into Thich Nhat Than's book, True Love, a veritable manual of how to deal with human relationships, the Buddhist way. I was brought up the Catholic way and I cannot say I've ever been given such an easy-to-follow and helpful 'manual' to human relationships. All I got, from my Catholic background, is a mountain of (sometimes-unwarranted) expectations from others, that have sometimes placed my relationships into question.

Naturally, the ones that give the most trouble are the ones where one is most invested. That's a true and painful admission. But the lessons you learn for 'romantic' love, can easily be translated into other forms of relationships.

The four basic principles of love that this book outlines are:

- loving-kindness - the ability to bring joy to the other

- compassion - the ability to ease the other's pain

- joy - if there is suffering, that is not love.

- equanimity or freedom - when you love someone, you bring that person freedom.

These are, in themselves, worthy of lengthy thought.  These 4 simple rules are important for any form of love - familial, friendship, deeper attachment.

UnMasked - Recovering Post-COVID

 I have not written here in a while, the confines of trying to keep busy during the last one and a half years while locked inside having driven me crazy.

My COVID journey was long. Less than one week into the dreaded limited human contact (not a full lockdown but schools and offices and everything else, were closed on 17 March 2020), I fell of my bicycle and went into 6 weeks of using a steel brace and crutches as I was unable to get anyone to see my injury. Finally, an orthopaedic surgeon advised that if I wore the brace any longer I risked a thrombosis; and that I should do some gentle walking and swimming.

I'd already tried some swimming and gentle walking and this was all the impetus I needed. The ballet shop suffered because I was unable to climb 4 flights of stairs to the little outlet; but the online sales continued to the extent that people were still dancing. Not much of course - reduced or no classes at all, reduced salaries for some. It all adds up.

This year we are appearing to go back to the life we once knew, with classes carrying on - with masks, if you please, but carrying on. The performing arts get a new lease of life.

We still have some uniforms sourced from UK with pre-Brexit prices as they are on our shelves since before Brexit.  Other EU-sourced merchandise remains the same, of course.  We have increased our platforms to include Revolut besides PayPal; and BOV Mobile payments if you are in Malta. If you are present in our shop, our BOV Cards machine accepts all international and Maltese cards. You're spoilt for choice.

We will always have some bargains on - just look up our bargains corner from time to time, our check out our website for any ongoing deals.

That's it! Happy Shopping!

Back to School - Autumn is here!

 

Schools in the performance / arts communities are reopening in Malta and this is such a relief. Although children have to wear masks, which can be a bit difficult when the activity involves strenuous exercise, it is always better than not being able to continue with tuition at all.

At The Ballet Shop, we have stocked up for all forms of dancewear for different forms of dance, but remember that if you have a uniform requirement for a particular school, you need to be specific about what it is you need.  The colour and material of the leotard is important, for example. If you are in Malta, we are also happy to have you over for a fitting, especially since pointe shoes require proper fitting, for example.

Ballet shoes, tights and socks, hair nets, bunholders - these are universal. A pink bunholder is the same in any school as is a pink wrap-over cardigan (ok you might be asked to choose between fleece and normal knitted cardigan); hairbands are the same colour as the leotards (usually) and tights, socks and shoes are invariably pink.

Head over to our shop now and see if there's anything that works for you!

The first few weeks of school term ...

So the first few weeks of school term have kicked off well, with people coming to the shop to get their uniforms.  Many people still prefer to fit their children with the appropriate uniforms, rather than order online, simply because they are growing so fast.  Some people think it is hardly worth their while ordering online and receiving items by post.  That is a great pity since it can save them time and money - of course, if they know the size.

It is important to fit the child well - many make the mistake of taking items which are far too big, or stretch out items which are far too small.  Ill-fitting clothes are dangerous in dance, as they can cause discomfort or, worse, injury.  This is especially true of footwear, since they can cause the dancer to trip and fall, or they can so badly cramp the feet that the work is not carried out properly and correctly.

Receive a proper fitting and contact us for an appointment.  You can also find us on facebook ! 

Our mini-shoes are finally on sale!

... We have found the time to upload them to the website, after having to edit the available images which were not of sufficient quality!   So you can now buy the pointe shoes and the mini soft shoes keyrings, usually available in most colours. You can either buy them in pairs or alone, and you can place them on display or attach them to a keyring - whatever suits you best.

If you are a school and wish to give these out to your students, or to sell them from your shop, please contact us for bulk discounts.  The same also applies if you want to order in bulk.

These items are excellent gift ideas but also make great souvenirs, e.g. at the end of a party, be it for young children, young adults, or a gathering of dancers.

We hope to be able to add more models soon - watch this space!

Sansha Soprano Pointe Shoes 5W

We have this one last pair of Sansha Soprano pointe shoes, it being an end-of-the-line model.  It is in Sansha size 5W - being a wide fitting in European size 35 or UK size 2.5.  Please be sure to check your size before purchasing as we do not have any others in this model, it being an end-of-line model.

You can view and purchase the item on ebay.