If you’ve already read my previous post “Living In a World Such as this is like Dancing on a Live Volcano” you will know why I recently ended up on a quick trip to Japan to perform at a small gala very last minute. This spontaneous trip became part of my very short summer vacation and was another chance to perform some pieces I never thought I would again.

I spent the week rehearsing and performing with old colleagues while managing to combine the days spending some much needed holiday time with my other half, who came along for the week.

❝It is quite amazing what you can make possible when you have no other choice❞

We arrived at our hotel after a very very long journey just in time for a quick dinner and hopefully an early night. But upon arriving I received my costumes and pre-ordered pointe shoes, which I needed to prepare for the next morning’s rehearsal. So while my husband slept soundly (possibly the only good night sleep he got the whole trip due to jetlag) I lay in bed till 12:30 sewing these emergency pointe shoes until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.

The next morning I was sewing the whole way to the rehearsal studio, during the warm-up class and literally moments before I had to put them on and dance in them. I quickly broke them in, gave them a quick hammering and they were on my feet for the rehearsal. Never before have I managed to dance in such new shoes, not to mention without elastics and on a very slippy, hard floor. But it surprised me how manageable it was. It is quite amazing what you can make possible when you have no other choice.

My working hours were not too long so my husband and I were able to seize each day and explore the great city of Tokyo. We spent our time wandering the fascinating streets of busy Shibuya and Shimbashi, enjoying the view from Tokyo Bay, tasting the intriguing food and even joining the locals at one of their beloved baseball matches. This was definitely one of our highlights, along with the Teamlab Borderless museum where we became children again, mesmerised by the three-dimensional world created there. This is a definite must-see when in Tokyo, guys.

Not forgetting that I was actually here to perform, and once we were in the theatre we had full days of dress rehearsals in the afternoon and shows early evening. We had quite a hard time adjusting to the very hard stage and I was feeling especially anxious for the performance after our first run-through. But we all grit our teeth, wanting to enjoy performing here as much as possible, and we did.

❝Being positive is what it should all be about❞

For myself, the second evening performance when I danced the Romeo & Juliet balcony pas de deux and all together we finished the evening off with Rachmaninov, was particularly memorable. The dancers and audience were lovely and after the final evening, there were many pictures with excited students and family members of the dancers. I felt very honoured to be there.

Even though I had my doubts about going at first, I am so lucky to have had this opportunity. I helped a lot of people by going, I performed for a new grateful audience, I had a wonderful time with my husband and friends, and I once again danced pieces that mean a lot to me. It was all so positive in the end and being positive is what it should all be about.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible and so memorable. It really made my summer.

With love,

Harriet