STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Naomi Pollock

Written by Jennifer Widemire Smith 

I joined Naomi in the studio this week to ask her a few questions and learn her perspective on joining the Classical Ballet of Mobile Family. The following conversation took place:

”Where do you go to school? What grade are you in?”

”I homeschool and I’m not in any grade. I just learn what my teachers teach me at my CC.”

C.C. is what she called her Classical Conversations homeschool co-op where she attends twice a week before coming to the ballet. Classical Ballet of Mobile is proud to serve as an extension of learning to our homeschooling families. As a homeschooling student and now homeschooling mother myself, I was greatly amused at her answer. For the record, Naomi is five and is in Kindergarten. 

”Do you remember your first ballet class? What was it like?” 

“We free danced and were super silly. We all giggled a lot and had fun doing crabs the ballet way.“ 

“What's the other way?“ She looked at me like I was nuts to even ask before she dropped her arms and walked sideways laughing at her image in the big mirrors. Then she flipped over on her back and showed me the ballet way. ”Woah, that’s a big difference!”

“What brought you to CBM?”

“My Mom and Dad brought me in the car. When I got in I started to tell them something when they interrupted me and told me I was going to come. I got so excited I forgot what I wanted to tell them!” She put her finger to her chin and tapped deep in thought, “I still can’t remember what it was because when I try to think about it I get sidetracked and end up thinking about the ballet instead and it makes me happy.” 

“What's your favorite ballet move?”

“Tippy toes! I pretend like I'm wearing my mom's heels. She instantly went up on her tippy toes to show me. “Look how high I can go!” 

“Wow! You’re going to be in pointe shoes in no time flat!” Naomi giggled the way only a five-year-old can when being paid a compliment. 

“I also really love getting stickers at the end of class.” She showed me the sticker she had on her hand. In fact, every Thursday after class she likes to find me behind the desk and climbs into my lap to show me she’s earned her sticker again. 

“So tell me, what’s the hardest part about ballet?”

She didn’t hesitate this time or even think about her answer, “The hardest part is tippy toes!” She moved in closer and whispered, “We have to do them for a whole 15 minutes.”

“Wow, that's a long time!”

“I know. I keep falling. But I just get up and do it again. My teacher says the more I do the better I’ll get.” She went up on her toes and started counting to 15 losing her balance around 8. “See. 15 minutes is so hard.” 

I smiled and thought how innocently Naomi had just reminded me of a universal truth. The harder the challenges the more we long to overcome it until we are great at it and thusly we become passionate about the hard, after all this is also her favorite part too. 

”What else do you like about dancing at Classical Ballet of Mobile?”

“Doing the Marching Band.” Naomi marched in a wide circle pretending to have a trombone in her hands dancing to a beat inside her head. ”I don’t think there’s anything I don’t like.” 

“Ok, last question, what do you want to be when you grow up?“

"Uhm...“ she chewed on her finger thoughtfully. Then her grin widened and her eyes sparkled, “A Ballerina Teacher! That would be soooo much fun!”

Imitation is the highest form of flattery. 

“Want to see something else?”

“Yes, please!”

“I can touch my toes to my bun!”

Touch Toes to Bun
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