P.S. I cannot remember if I have posted this before so please forgive me if this is a repeat of an old post. Thanks! Do leave a comment to share your thoughts.
There was once a young ballerina who had taken ballet lesson all through her childhood. She wanted to be a prima ballet dancer but she wanted to be sure that she had the talent. When a ballet company came to town, she went backstage after the performance and spoke to the ballet master.
“I want to be a great ballet dancer but I don’t know if I had the talent” she said.
“Dance for me” the master said. After a minute or two, he shook his head and said “No, no, no, you don’t have what it takes to be a great ballerina.”
The young woman went home heartbroken. She tossed the ballet slippers into the closet and never wore them again. Instead she got married, had children. When the kids were old enough, she took a part time job manning a cash register at a corner shop.
Years later, the same ballet company came into town. She attended it and on the way out, she ran into the same old ballet master who was then in his eighties. She reminded him that they had spoken before. She showed him photos of her children and told him about the corner shop job that she is doing now. And then she asked “There is just one thing that really bothered me. How could you tell me that I didn't have what it takes to be a great ballerina?”
“Oh, I barely look at you when you danced, that’s what I told all of them who came to me” he said.
“But…but, that’s unforgivable! You have ruined my life, I could have been a great ballet dancer!” she cried.
-Author Unknown-
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So whose fault was it? The old ballet master or the budding ballerina or both of them?
Please leave a comment..I would love to hear your views. Thanks.
6 comments to Whose Fault?
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kosongcafe I can still remember asking a partner of Shook Lin & Bok (father's friend) for a reference letter when I applied to study overseas and he told me to write it myself, before giving me a proper one. I think he had a good laugh over my poor school leaver's effort. I think it was a good way to make the person who asked for a favour to show some initiative himself.
In your example, the ballet master did the right thing (which seems common among Chinese sifus), to test whether she has what it takes to be a good ballerina. How could someone who is supposed to be passionate about ballet give up simply because someone said she is not good enough at the first instance? Even if the sifu did not discourage her, she is likely to drop out sooner or later.
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HotDogg Aunty Paula,
I know whose fault it is. The foolish old ballet master. He refused to even LOOK at the girl's potential and told her she don't have the talent. Grrrr...
And I also know the name of the ballet dancer. Her name is Miss Pakatan. And I also know the name of that evil old bastard. His name is Mr. Stuipd Citizen. Grrr...
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Unknown Dear Anon # 1
Wow! Thanks for such a powerfully inspiring comment! We all need that dose of optimism. Take care and do keep in touch!
Cheers
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Unknown Dear KosongCafe
Many thanks for sharing such a meaningful experience that jives very well with the post. There is nothing like true life experiences to enrich our lives and that of others.
I do agree with your observation and would put a greater part of the blame on the ballerina as she should, for the love of the dance form, rise above all circumstances to chase her dream and ambition.
But then again, I am a dreamer and idealist :-).
Take care and thanks for sharing! Do keep in touch.
Cheers
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Unknown Dear Little Corgi
That is so clever of you, my dear k9 , to draw the parallel with the story. Hopefully, the finger pointing exercises will stop and that the rakyat will know what to do and for whom to vote in the next GE.
Take care and have a woofderful day!
Cheers
Anonymous Believe against belief. hope against hope. sweet victory when you we prove the naysayers wrong.