One day, she wanted to dance in one of the most prestigious dance companies in Australia.
Her ballet teacher once said that this dream, for some it will always remain a dream, but for her it would be possible.
This teacher had been teaching her ever since she started dancing. The teacher used to be a ballet soloist from England. They were very close.
And this girl? She was a girl who dreamed of being a ballerina one day, just like many other young dancers.
The thing she loved about Australia was that it was a country full of multiculturalism, every form of dance from around the world united in this country.
She imagined herself touring the country, dancing her dream.
But every single time she daydreamed like this, reality would hit her. She could just hear her dream shatter like broken glass, each shard playing its own note. Her parents were traditional Chinese immigrants; her father didn’t want her to be so involved in the British culture of ballet. Her mother was more understanding, because she used to dance but her father was still captivated in his past, unable to accept new cultures, new ideas and new traditions.
***********
After the auditions for the Australian Ballet Company, she felt really stressed lately because she was scared of her future. Her father wanted her to be a doctor but she really didn’t want to. Her only wish was to decide her own future but was that already a difficult thing to do?
She smiled at her thoughts, she should be having fun now, why was she was stressing and worrying so much?
Her father caught up with her, ‘Why do you look so sad? Don’t you like this view? The Grand Pacific Drive is one of the best places to visit!’
She reluctantly agreed and she looked at the vast ocean ahead of her.
‘I know what you are worrying about; you know you can talk to me about anything.’ Her dad smiled.
Elizabeth frowned, ‘Look Dad, I really wanted to talk to you about my future, I don’t want to be a doctor…I…want to dance. I know you don’t agree with me but I really hope you can understand.’
‘You are right, no one can force you to be a doctor, to be honest, I feel ashamed of how I used to think, your ballet teacher and your mother have both talked to me about your future and I now realize my expectations for you are not realistic and very stressful for you. I am not only Chinese but also Australian; I have to learn to accept different cultures and the Australian way of parenting. Elizabeth, in your hands is your own future, if you let go slightly, it will fly away, grasp on and you will have a better future than others. Remember I will always support you whatever you do.’
She felt overpowered by surprise and relief at the same time, she felt the warmth of the sun soak into her skin, the calm breeze through her hair and she could just feel the happiness in her bubbling until she was smiling.
She couldn’t wait to tell Kaia about her time with her father today. Kaia had been her best friend since year 3 when Kaia first migrated to Australia from India. Elizabeth had readily taken the role to teach Kaia English and from then on, they had been best friends. She was the only person to try to become friends with Kaia, she knew it must have been very hard for her to adjust to a completely new environment with strangers. Now, seventeen, Kaia had long adapted to everything Australian, and she loved everything about Australia.
********
The bell finally rang for home and Elizabeth felt nervous yet excited; the results from the Australian Ballet Company auditions were being released. Her parents knew how she felt about it and promised to call her when the letter arrived. She felt the buzz of her phone and saw the text her mother sent.
Her mum said the letter had arrived but Liz should open it herself.
She ran. It felt like an eternity to her, the path to home.
All these years of practice. All the weeks of dancing en pointe for endless hours before the audition.
It all came to now. Everything she had hoped for. The one thing she loved.
She halted outside the door. She carefully opened the door, breathless. And then she saw it.
It was on the table in the kitchen. She grabbed the envelope. As she was about to rip open the letter, she faltered, did she really want to know? She was scared she would be disappointed, after all the company only wanted two dancers and it wasn’t like she went to the Australian Ballet School.
‘Go on open it!’ her mother encouraged. She didn’t realise her mother watching her.
It was a tiny rip at first, she looked at her mother, taking a deep breath, and she tore the envelope open and took out the words that could possibly decide her future, all in the one letter.
‘All members of the Australian Ballet Company welcome you, Elizabeth Wang, to join us, we hope you feel proud to become one of us. As one the most famous ballet companies in the world, we….’
Everything seemed impossible all of a sudden. Liz felt paralyzed with shock. She looked outside.
The sky was still blue, the grass still green, but she was about to live her dream.
Her mother took the letter from her hands, and tears slowly formed in her eyes.
‘I used to dream of being a ballerina when I was young like you too.’
Liz looked up at her mother.
‘…but situations then did not allow me to progress to become a professional dancer, instead I had to attend university. That is why I don’t want you to be like me, I know you love dancing, which is why I fostered your talent from when you were very little. My wish was for you to chase your dream and you know, I am so proud of you Elizabeth. I know you don’t want to disappoint your father but he will support you just like me because ballet is something that your mother loves even more than you.’
‘Go on, Elizabeth, this is your future. Dance your dream.’
She felt a burden in the depths of her heart, begin to lift. She looked outside, she could see a balloon becoming smaller and smaller as it drifted away, and it was like herself, drifting up into the unknown, pursuing her own destiny. She didn’t know what awaited her in her future, but she was ready.
********
As she was lifted into the air, she felt like she was defying gravity, she couldn’t help smiling. From the stage, she saw her parents, Kaia and her ballet teacher, the most important people in her life. They were all crying.
The lights dimmed.
The audience applauded.
It was over but not yet.
This was only the beginning of her journey.
One day, she wanted to dance in one of the most prestigious dance companies in Australia.
Her ballet teacher once said that this dream, for some it will always remain a dream, but for her it would be possible.
This teacher had been teaching her ever since she started dancing. The teacher used to be a ballet soloist from England. They were very close.
And this girl? She was a girl who dreamed of being a ballerina one day, just like many other young dancers.
The thing she loved about Australia was that it was a country full of multiculturalism, every form of dance from around the world united in this country.
She imagined herself touring the country, dancing her dream.
But every single time she daydreamed like this, reality would hit her. She could just hear her dream shatter like broken glass, each shard playing its own note. Her parents were traditional Chinese immigrants; her father didn’t want her to be so involved in the British culture of ballet. Her mother was more understanding, because she used to dance but her father was still captivated in his past, unable to accept new cultures, new ideas and new traditions.
***********
After the auditions for the Australian Ballet Company, she felt really stressed lately because she was scared of her future. Her father wanted her to be a doctor but she really didn’t want to. Her only wish was to decide her own future but was that already a difficult thing to do?
She smiled at her thoughts, she should be having fun now, why was she was stressing and worrying so much?
Her father caught up with her, ‘Why do you look so sad? Don’t you like this view? The Grand Pacific Drive is one of the best places to visit!’
She reluctantly agreed and she looked at the vast ocean ahead of her.
‘I know what you are worrying about; you know you can talk to me about anything.’ Her dad smiled.
Elizabeth frowned, ‘Look Dad, I really wanted to talk to you about my future, I don’t want to be a doctor…I…want to dance. I know you don’t agree with me but I really hope you can understand.’
‘You are right, no one can force you to be a doctor, to be honest, I feel ashamed of how I used to think, your ballet teacher and your mother have both talked to me about your future and I now realize my expectations for you are not realistic and very stressful for you. I am not only Chinese but also Australian; I have to learn to accept different cultures and the Australian way of parenting. Elizabeth, in your hands is your own future, if you let go slightly, it will fly away, grasp on and you will have a better future than others. Remember I will always support you whatever you do.’
She felt overpowered by surprise and relief at the same time, she felt the warmth of the sun soak into her skin, the calm breeze through her hair and she could just feel the happiness in her bubbling until she was smiling.
She couldn’t wait to tell Kaia about her time with her father today. Kaia had been her best friend since year 3 when Kaia first migrated to Australia from India. Elizabeth had readily taken the role to teach Kaia English and from then on, they had been best friends. She was the only person to try to become friends with Kaia, she knew it must have been very hard for her to adjust to a completely new environment with strangers. Now, seventeen, Kaia had long adapted to everything Australian, and she loved everything about Australia.
********
The bell finally rang for home and Elizabeth felt nervous yet excited; the results from the Australian Ballet Company auditions were being released. Her parents knew how she felt about it and promised to call her when the letter arrived. She felt the buzz of her phone and saw the text her mother sent.
Her mum said the letter had arrived but Liz should open it herself.
She ran. It felt like an eternity to her, the path to home.
All these years of practice. All the weeks of dancing en pointe for endless hours before the audition.
It all came to now. Everything she had hoped for. The one thing she loved.
She halted outside the door. She carefully opened the door, breathless. And then she saw it.
It was on the table in the kitchen. She grabbed the envelope. As she was about to rip open the letter, she faltered, did she really want to know? She was scared she would be disappointed, after all the company only wanted two dancers and it wasn’t like she went to the Australian Ballet School.
‘Go on open it!’ her mother encouraged. She didn’t realise her mother watching her.
It was a tiny rip at first, she looked at her mother, taking a deep breath, and she tore the envelope open and took out the words that could possibly decide her future, all in the one letter.
‘All members of the Australian Ballet Company welcome you, Elizabeth Wang, to join us, we hope you feel proud to become one of us. As one the most famous ballet companies in the world, we….’
Everything seemed impossible all of a sudden. Liz felt paralyzed with shock. She looked outside.
The sky was still blue, the grass still green, but she was about to live her dream.
Her mother took the letter from her hands, and tears slowly formed in her eyes.
‘I used to dream of being a ballerina when I was young like you too.’
Liz looked up at her mother.
‘…but situations then did not allow me to progress to become a professional dancer, instead I had to attend university. That is why I don’t want you to be like me, I know you love dancing, which is why I fostered your talent from when you were very little. My wish was for you to chase your dream and you know, I am so proud of you Elizabeth. I know you don’t want to disappoint your father but he will support you just like me because ballet is something that your mother loves even more than you.’
‘Go on, Elizabeth, this is your future. Dance your dream.’
She felt a burden in the depths of her heart, begin to lift. She looked outside, she could see a balloon becoming smaller and smaller as it drifted away, and it was like herself, drifting up into the unknown, pursuing her own destiny. She didn’t know what awaited her in her future, but she was ready.
********
As she was lifted into the air, she felt like she was defying gravity, she couldn’t help smiling. From the stage, she saw her parents, Kaia and her ballet teacher, the most important people in her life. They were all crying.
The lights dimmed.
The audience applauded.
It was over but not yet.
This was only the beginning of her journey.
