Balancing Acts by Lucy Gray

Author:Lucy Gray [Gray Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
Published: 2015-11-21T05:00:00+00:00

TINA LEBLANC | SEPTEMBER 2002

In the sixth week after Marinko was born, I started back with my own class, just to get moving again. I wanted to start really slowly and just do bar. The first thing up was Nutcracker, and then in January there was the Gala—the first Gala after the Opera House was renovated. It was going to be a huge deal. I knew that I would be included in it, and I knew they would have me do something hard because they always do. I thought that would be terrifying, all that pressure first time back after having a baby, so I was determined to dance in some shows of Nutcracker, just to get my stage feet back. I’m glad I did. It was something that was familiar; it wasn’t too difficult, and there wasn’t a lot of pressure. I had a couple of decent shows, and I had a couple of bad ones, but it let me know where I was at. I was probably a little heavy, but it worked out the best for me.

This time around I will have the baby in the beginning of February, and the end of the season is the beginning of May. It may take a little longer the second time—you never know. I’ll take the rest of the season and be with my baby and then worry about getting into shape. I’ll start back in July, when the company starts back. And hopefully I’ll be closer to being in shape by then.

The first time, even performing and working, it took me five months to get to a decent weight. It wasn’t like I had a lot to work off. Two weeks after Marinko was born, I was only ten pounds heavier, because he was so big. It took me five months to lose those ten pounds. I remember hitting a point where it seemed like nothing would get the weight off. I was working, I had stopped breast-feeding, and I hit a wall. I just couldn’t lose weight. Then, after a couple of weeks, the body kicked in.

I really feel that being a more well-rounded person helps me understand roles and keeps a perspective on what I’m doing. OK, I’m nervous for this performance, but I’m not saving a life, am I? I’m out there entertaining people. Who cares if I slip and fall down? It’s a personal challenge. It’s not their judgment that I should be worried about.

When I came back after having Marinko, I felt so different as a dancer. No longer was it my live-or-die sort of thing. It was fun. My work was at home—that was my job. My priority was to raise this little being and enjoy that. In the beginning, coming back to work was my quiet time. I was comfortable with it, and I could leave home, where I would be thinking, “Oh, my God, what’s he doing? Oh, it’s not supposed to be this way!” First-time-mom stuff. I found it beneficial to both [my work and my family].

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