Ballet, Then and Now

I love this photo. Not only is it unexpected and amusing, but it gets an important point across (no pun intended).

Ballerina's are athletes.

In fact ballerina's and football players are considered to tolerate the same amount of pain in their respective sports, as well as to maintain the same kind of discipline.

As I spent quite a few years in ballet myself, I have a great appreciation for the athleticism and artistry of this dance form; the gracefulness and precision of the movements, the poised and powerful strength of the body, and the romantic, classical elements of the music and performances.

I was first enraptured by the magic of ballet and inspired to be a ballerina when my mom took me at the age of seven to see, The Nutcracker, performed by the Alberta Ballet. I even had my picture taken with the Nutcracker Prince!

I dreamed of being a professional ballerina and dancing on pointe, and though I have never reached either of my childhood goals, my years in dance are far from being a waste. They were extremely meaningful; a foundation for so much more. Ballet taught me discipline and perseverance, gave me an ear for rhythm, instilled within me a love for classical music, and most importantly, revealed to me that I can use dance to worship God!

In light of my passion for dance, I thought it would be interesting, dear readers, to take a little trip into the world of ballet.

Here's a short introduction to begin - an interview with a leading American ballerina, Misty Copeland.

 

So where did ballet originate?

1300's - 1500's: Ballet (Balletto or ballo meaning "to dance") begins to take form as an elegant court dance during the Italian Renaissance.

1600's: King Louis XIV of France (also known as the Sun King) takes ballet as his own and transforms it into a grandiose art. He names the steps (plié, soussus, pirouette, arabesque, fondu, grande jete, etc.), uses it to enhance fencing, and dances in many performances himself along with his courtiers. 

1700's -1800's: Ballet continues to flourish. Begins to look like the ballet we see and dance today.

1900's: France's ballets becomes rather "stagnant and predictable." Russians take the art and breath life into it once again. This is what we call classical ballet (to this day, Russian ballerina's are often considered the best). Britain and America follow in Russia's footsteps and begin establishing their own ballet schools and companies.

Present Day: Classical ballet is still taught and performed worldwide, but choreographers and teachers are branching out to include modern, aesthetic movements and stories (neoclassical).

Note: I didn't want to overwhelm my readers with clips of dancers (there are so many!), but if you have time I would highly suggest watching this interesting video which gives a great visual of how ballet has changed over the centuries.

Okay, now that we've traveled briefly through the history of ballet, we're going to tour the studio where the ballerina's are practicing and then rendezvous over to the theatre for a night of music, art, and culture. 

 

In the Studio

Variation from Giselle: 

This clip demonstrates the drive, technique, and practice a dancer needs in order to perform.

Here follows some of the hardest moves of the profession...

On Stage

Odile's Coda from Swan Lake:

Notice in particular the height of the man's jumps, and the stamina and balance of the woman.

Isn't the set magnificent?

Dance of the Cygnets from Swan Lake:

By far one of my favourite variations. Their precision and grace as a team is beautiful!

Kitri Variation from Don Quixote: 

Such an elegant and flamboyant dance! 

I hope you enjoyed the show!

Resources
Timeline of Ballet: www.coreofculture.org/ballet.html

The Story Behind the Song, Part II

And the story continues...

John Newton's encounter with God aboard the Greyhound, and his following resolution of faith were the beginning of a new life and journey for the young sailor. It did not mean that he was immediately transformed into a saint - no longer prone to wallowing in the dregs of sin and temptation - or that he became immune to sorrow and pain; but he had been on the threshold of death's door; witnessing the darkness and emptiness that awaited him beyond, and that he deserved to remain forever in the depths to which he had chosen to fall. But with this horrific realization came the overwhelming and powerful knowledge that Christ had rescued him from the pit, taking the weight of sin and death off his shoulders, and would continue to sanctify (set a apart; purify) the young man. The libertine sailor had been chosen by God Almighty to be his heir; his son; his child (read Galatians 3:26-28 and Titus 3:5-7). 
Newton wrote in retrospect...

“I mark that day as the turning point in my spiritual experience. I came into the good of being delivered from the power and domination of sin—even though I still, to this day, ‘groan, being burdened’ with the effects and ever-present conflicts of my sin nature.” 

At the age of twenty-five, in 1750, John Newton was elevated to captain and and promised a slave ship, The Duke of Argyle. Such a position was considered a “genteel employment," and so John saw this as his long-awaited opportunity to introduce himself as a suitable suitor to Mary Cartlett and to ask for her hand in marriage. She accepted and they had a joyful wedding in February, 1750. 
It wasn't long, though, before Newton had to return to sea. The months abroad were agonizingly long as he thought of Mary waiting patiently for his return. There is little evidence that Newton felt any conviction at the time concerning his business in the slave trade. Many historians and scholars debate the authenticity of his faith. How could a true Christian continue in such a career? But I would bring to their attention the fact that slavery was so ingrained in 18th century society and culture, that even though it may sound absurd and calloused to us today, the majority of the Christian community condoned it as necessary for the betterment of the British nation (of course it was a much more complex issue, but for the purpose of this blog post, I will leave it at that). Newton was truly seeking after the Lord, but he was new in the faith with little teaching and instruction. Conviction and action would come.

Note: It makes me wonder and consider what we as Christians condone and encourage in our culture today, simply because it is so ingrained in our day-to-day lives that we are oblivious to its moral and physical consequences upon our nation and personal lives. 

A few years later, on a trip to the West Indies, Newton met and befriended Captain Clunie, a man of God, who became his mentor. John later wrote, “I was all ear; he not only increased my understanding, but his teaching warmed my heart.”
In November 1754, Newton was encouraged by his doctor to retire from sailing after he had an unexplainable seizure at the age of twenty-nine. John was content with this turn of events - especially as he had begun to feel uncomfortable in his role as a slave ship captain - and spent the next few months happily at home with his wife and wandering through the countryside, praying and reading his Bible.   
In August 1755 the Newton’s moved to Liverpool when John got a job as a tide surveyor. Though he enjoyed his new career, his heart leaned toward the ministry. He became acquainted with George Whitefield, a renowned speaker of the time, and he began studying Hebrew and Greek, but he soon came to the realization that, “(He) would rather be useful to others than die with the reputation of an eminent linguist.” 
Though the idea did not please many of his relatives and friends, Newton began to think earnestly about entering the clergy. His first attempt at preaching a sermon was a humiliating disaster, but he continued to persevere. He applied for ordination but met opposition at every turn. Many people refused to be references for him and he discovered that it was imperative that he have a university education - which he did not have and would not be able to attain. Though Newton was understandably frustrated, he was not defeated; the conflict only made him all the more certain that this was what God was calling him to do. While he waited for something to happen, he wrote his Authentic Narrative, and published it in that same year (1764). Soon after, Newton’s story and predicament came to the attention of Lord Dartmouth, a man of great influence. He worked swiftly on Newton's behalf and succeeded in attaining a parish for him in the little trade town of Olney. So Newton, at the age of thirty-nine became a clergyman, just like his mother had prayed and desired. 
The next sixteen years in Olney were happy ones. John and Mary never had children, but they acted as loving parents and friends to many of those in their congregation, and later adopted Mary's niece.
Newton continued to show a talent for writing poetry, but it was no longer the vulgar rubbish he had written as a young man. In 1779, Newton and Cowper (a dear friend of Newton's) published a collection of Olney Hymns, the majority of them being written by Newton, including what would become his most famous hymn, Amazing Grace. In the same year, he was offered a position at St. Mary’s Woolnoth in London. He accepted. John wrote about himself after the move: 

“That one of the most ignorant, the most miserable, and the most abandoned of slaves should be plucked from his forlorn state of exile in the coast of Africa and eventually be appointed minister of the parish of the first magistrate of the first city of the world; that he should there not only testify to such grace, but himself be a monument of it; that he should be able to record his rescue in his history, preaching, and writings to the world at large is a fact that I marvel in but (can) never sufficiently understand.”

It was there in 1785 that he was visited by a young Parliamentarian named William Wilberforce who wished to have a “serious conversation” about faith, and to seek direction from the old sea captain in regards to his career and raising a bill in the House against slavery. 
Newton had been struggling as he considered the magnitude of the atrocities of the slave trade, and the part he had played in them. But God would use these painful events and memories "for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Genesis 50:19, ESV), just as he did for Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Newton would later stand before the Privy Council as an eyewitness of the slave trade, ultimately assisting and encouraging Wilberforce in his campaign for its abolition. Newton also had many letters and essays published in his later years and he influenced a great many organizations and people like Wilberforce.
It was also in London that deep sorrow touched his life. His dear friend Cowper passed away, and Mary, his beloved wife, died at the age of fifty. Newton wondered how he could carry on, but God continued to strengthen him. 
John Newton was getting old. His eyesight was failing to the point of blindness and his memory was fading. He refused to retire from the pulpit, though, and continued to preach despite the fact that he frequently lapsed into forgetfulness in front of his congregation. He once said to someone, “I am like a person going on a journey in a stage coach, who expects its arrival every hour, and is frequently looking out the window for it.”  As one biographer described, John Newton waited patiently and joyously until that coach arrived on 21 December, 1807 and took him peacefully away at the age of eighty-two. The following is the inscription on his grave:

"Once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, (he) was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, reserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy."

Knowing the story and life behind the song can deeply enrich our understanding and appreciation of it. Why not read over the original lyrics of Amazing Grace below, or listen to the song?

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His Word my hope secures;

He will my Shield and Portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

If you are interested in learning more about this fascinating and monumental time in history, I would highly suggest reading Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas and watching the movie by the same name, released in 2007 to commemorate the bicentennial of the abolition of the slave trade. It's one of my favourite historical films!

Sadly, John Newton, William Wilberforce, and that time in history are often overlooked in school and by our culture. Did you know that Abraham Lincoln considered Wilberforce to be one of his greatest inspirations? 

I could talk on and on about this historical period and these inspiring men of faith, but I will contain myself and leave it at that!

Resources

Dunn, John. A Biography of John Newton. New Creation Teaching Ministry, 1994. Web.

Metaxas, Eric. Amazing Grace. Harper Collins, New York, 2007. Print.

Newton, John. Authentic Narrative. London, 1964. Web.

The Story Behind the Song, Part I

The old hymn Amazing Grace remains one of the most popular and beloved songs of the Christian faith and continues, surprisingly, to surface in the secular music realm. We hear it often and know many of the words by heart, and can thus, sadly, become desensitized, even indifferent to its powerful message. 
Some may be familiar with the portrait of the man below - a stern, portly clergyman with a wig -  and know that his name was John Newton and that he was the one who penned the famous words, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..." But he was more than his picture depicts. His life is a beautiful testament of God's grace, and I would like to share a "short" account of it as it has encouraged and increased my own faith. 

This is his story...

John Newton was born in 1725 to a rough sea-captain and a gentle, pious mother in England. While his father sailed the seven seas, his mother educated him at home and planted seeds of faith within his soul. John was a voracious learner, memorizing vast passages of scripture and poetry, and listening attentively to his mother. He remembered fondly how his mother prayed consistently for his future and that he would grow to be a righteous follower of God. She had high hopes that she would one day see him dressed in a clerical gown delivering a sermon. 
But Mrs. Newton was not to witness the answer to her prayers for she died when John was only seven years old, and with her was buried any further Biblical instruction. 
John got his first taste of the sea at the age of eleven when his father began taking him on his voyages. During this time his conscience plagued him dreadfully, as he was surrounded constantly by the coarse, lewd conversations of the crew. As time passed, though, he began to fall into their ways and became increasingly rebellious and reckless. 
In the year 1742 when John was seventeen years old, his father arranged for him to become involved in the management of a plantation in Jamaica, where he could lead an “adventurous life” and make his fortune with ease.  Though John cared nothing for business he agreed to go for four or five years.

Only a week before he was scheduled to depart he was invited to the Cartletts' home for a short visit (friends of his mother's). John was completely indifferent to the invitation...that is, until he set eyes on their oldest daughter Mary, a pretty girl of fourteen. John himself expresses the moment best:

“Almost at the first sight of this girl I was impressed with an affection for her which never abated or lost its influence a single moment in my heart from that hour. In degree, it actually equaled all that the writers of romance have imagined.”  

The sudden, intense affection he felt for Mary caused John to hastily rethink his future. To sail to Jamaica would mean four or five long years devoid of Miss Cartlett, and by his return her heart might belong to another. John quickly made his decision: he would not go to Jamaica. He purposefully missed his sailing and returned reluctantly to London to face his father. Once Mr. Newton had calmed from his uproar over his son’s irresponsible nature, he arranged a position for John on a merchant ship called the Dolphin as a common sailor. John had no choice but to go or run the risk of being disowned by his father.

Over the next year he lived the life of a sailor and spent the majority of his leave at the Cartlett's. But then disaster struck. John was seized by the press gang (to learn more about the press gang read this short article here) and placed as a sailor on board the HMS Harwich. Mr. Newton was of two opinions as to how to resolve the dilemma. For one, his pride would not allow his son to be degraded to such a lowly fate; it was his duty to use his influence to free John from the "intolerable drudgeries" of service. On the other hand, Mr. Newton saw this as an opportunity for his son to be subjected to needful discipline. He eventually made the decision to leave his son onboard, but he persuaded the captain to elevate John to midshipman. Soon after, England declared war on France and the Harwich had a brief encounter with a French man-o’-war – John's first taste of battle.

In December 1744, when John was nineteen years old, he learned that his ship was to sail for the West Indies, and would probably be away five years. He took his one day of leave to say farewell to Mary and her family. The visit didn't go as planned. Mary’s parents addressed their displeasure over the designs John had for their naïve daughter, forbidding him to ever return or correspond. John was heartbroken and  in thoughtless despair, deserted his ship. It was not long before he was recaptured and subjected to retribution. He was stripped of his rank and received eight dozen (ninety-six) strokes with the cat-o’-nine-tails. This ignominy changed John drastically. While he sat in agony, chained in the dark hold of the ship after his flogging, he considered murdering the captain and then committing suicide. Hate for mankind and his life seethed within him like a restless volcano. He did not lash out like he’d intended though. John later wrote that, "The secret hand of God restrained (him).” 

Nineteen days later the Harwich exchanged two of their common sailors for two men from a Guinea slave ship. John was selected as one of them. With his dishonourable past behind him, John was able to set up a new reputation for himself...which was in no way an improvement. John writes that,

“…(I was as) abandoned as I pleased, without any control; and from this time, I was exceedingly vile…I not only sinned with a high hand myself, but I made it my study to tempt and seduce others upon every occasion.”

This was John's first real taste of the slave trade and like many of the sailors he found pleasure in treating the black people with unthinkable cruelty.

John soon became friends with an affluent plantation owner and trader named Amos Clow who lived in West Africa with his black mistress. Young Newton eagerly asked Clow to be allowed to accompany him to his home, as he believed that if he followed in the footsteps of the wealthy man he would be rich within a few years himself, and would be able to return home and present himself as an honourable suitor for Mary. Clow agreed to this proposition, but things did not go as planned. Upon arrival, John was refused any pay for the work he did, and when he succumbed to fever he was left in the care of Clow’s abusive mistress, who in turn left him to die. He miraculously recovered, but only to be accused of stealing from Clow, who believed the false report and punished the young man severely, reducing John to nothing more than a plantation slave. John expressed that he was “depressed to a degree beyond common wretchedness." Again, John was miraculously rescued from his situation by a merchant and sailors looking for him on behalf of his father. Despite these occurrences and moments of brokenness, John refused to acknowledge God and descended further into his sin. As Newton was considered a passenger on the ship sailing for home, and not a sailor, he had no responsibilities on deck, and could devote his time to what he enjoyed best, which sadly involved writing vulgar poetry and swearing. As John wrote,

“My whole life, when awake, was a course of most horrid impiety and profaneness. I know not that I have ever since met so daring a blasphemer. Not content with common oaths and imprecations, I daily invented new ones.”

 It was around this time that John picked up a book on board called The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A' Kempis’ which begins with the words:

"'He that followeth Me, walketh not in darkness,'...These are the words of Christ, by which we are taught, how we ought to imitate his life and manners, if we will be truly enlightened and be delivered from all blindness of heart."

and it continues,

"It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh, and to labour for that for which thou must afterward suffer more grievous punishment... For they that follow their lusts, do stain their own consciences, and lose favour of God." 

He soon threw the book away in disgust but the convicting words continued to resonate in his mind and heart.

Then that fateful night came. On 10 March, 1748, the Greyhound was hit by a powerful gale that lashed and shook the vessels very core. The situation was hopeless. It was only a matter of time before the sea swallowed them whole. As John helped in the desperate fight for survival he whispered almost unintentionally, "The Lord have mercy on us.” As he continued to work he felt a comforting reassurance that he was not alone, and long forgotten Bible verses that he had memorized as a child were coming to mind once again. As the storm died away and the crew celebrated their narrow escape from death, John contemplated for the first time in years the implications of eternal death, and how closely he had come to hell’s door.

Then another storm hit. The crewmen began to talk of throwing John overboard, who’s wickedness branded him a Jonah (a man running from God). Such relentless storms could only be punishment from Above, they believed. Thankfully for John’s sake, they never had the opportunity to test their theory as the storm soon blew over.

After almost a month of drifting, they landed in Ireland, a bedraggled group of starving men. As John made his way home he contemplated what had taken place over the past few months. Though many things confused John, there were two things that were very clear to him. One, that he was a terrible sinner, and two, that he had encountered the grace of God. Then and there he resolved that he would leave his wicked ways behind him forever. 

If you've read this far, I congratulate and thank you for being willing to take time out of your busy schedule to read about a man who lived almost 400 years ago!

I will conclude the story sometime next week!

Resources

Dunn, John. A Biography of John Newton. New Creation Teaching Ministry, 1994. Web.

Kempis, Thomas A'. The Imitation of Christ. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980. Book.

Newton, John. Authentic Narrative. London, 1964. Web.