He got a job.
He got a real job - at the "apprentice level" - that's what they call the first two years of being in a Real Company.
But he made it.
He's with Ben Stevenson in the Texas Ballet Theater.
He was in the home stretch of his first year when Covid19 hit. So the season cancelled and he was home with us - since March 2020.
But they continued to honor his contract. He was paid right through the season.
And he is headed back to Texas this weekend - even though it's unlikely that they'll have much of a season, bc Covid is raging through our country - with Texas, stubborn Texas, hard hit this summer.
It's unclear if they'll even try to have a Nutcracker - but oh I hope so.
He's so happy.
The Company is so psychologically healthy. Stevenson is a genius. And it's an honor to dance for him.
We are glad he's finished his training in Boston - a good two years, plus a couple of extra summers.
He told us he's glad he chose this profession, even though the Arts have been decimated by Covid.
I hope he stays with Texas. Every year, it's always a question - at least for the first few years.
No more auditions, we hope.
The part between trainee year and first year of employment is excruciating. It involves making sure you have your audition videos, your upload to the right medium for submission of said videos, your head/body shots, your ability to dance a contemporary as well as a classical piece. And then you need to come from the correct studios, and then you really need to dance in front of them, not just submit materials. We flew him everywhere and he found Texas while auditioning in NYC. And of course, Texas wanted to know within about 48 hours, and of course, he had no idea what to do - but decided that this was the place, bc of the way it felt. It was a good move.
And so, back to Texas, headed down to this - this Covid Zone. But he's got to get a car registered there, since he left in a flurry over four months ago when this disease took hold, and it's expired, so now he's got to get a Texas driver's license, and bc the state is locked down - omg - it's too much to explain.
We'll need to help him a little bit.
He's grown up well.
He loves his job, and he's been happy in this company which has felt like a family.
We just need to continue to pray and hope that he stays healthy and well - that we all do. And that our country somehow returns to a state of normalcy and grace.
God willing.
