MSB Memories from Karen Pisani

The years spent dancing with like-minded individuals are very precious. Whether you are a
teacher or a student, the friendships you make while striving for perfection at your craft
become life-long relationships. Nobody except those people beside you in class know the
struggles that have been endured and the triumphs that have been celebrated.
At the Marblehead School of Ballet, I was lucky to make some connections that would last
through-out my life.

Did we have fun? Were we constantly mugging each other at the barre? Was Paula in tune
with our antics? Had we worked our butts off at every lesson?
Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
And, at the Marblehead School of Ballet, I was ecstatic to dance along side my students.
There is nothing that makes a teacher more proud than having a student join her in the dance
studio or on the stage. Cheryl and Monique (my cousin) danced in my studio since they were
little girls. I love them dearly. I took them to MSB for extra practice and to learn that teachers
have differ. But, mostly, to have a good time working hard with me in Paula’s dance class. I
was a stickler for ‘performance level’ practice. Let’s see a smile while your battling for a
double pirouette!

Then, there was Joanne. I can’t even remember where ballet ended and gymnastics began or
vice versa! Two people could not have had more ‘fun’ which is defined as:
behavior or an activity that is intended purely for amusement and should not be interpreted as
having serious or malicious purposes. Often, we found it difficult to contain ourselves in ballet
class…very difficult. As if we were 3 years old, it only took one look or side-ways glance to set
us off. Oh, dear, so much enjoyment and so naughty, but never disrespectful….we were hard
working humans!

Can you pick up with people from The Northshore Civic Ballet Company 30 years later? How?
Here’s how: while visiting Cheryl in NJ, she asked if I’d like to take a dance class…sure, why
not? Well, Rachel, who I had met with her sister, Libby at MSB, would also be in class!! We
had a wonderful mini reunion while taking a ballet class, and sent Paula some pictures.
I love to think outside the box, and Paula endured my antics. Oh, you want an example? It
was time for turns across the floor. Paula’s instruction was ‘you may do any kind of turns you’d
like providing it has a beginning and an ending’. Immediately my brain thought ‘oh, ok,
cartwheels with a round-off ending would be fun’, and I proceeded to do just that!
If you give students the best, they will become the best…we got the best from Paula at the
Marblehead School of Ballet!

Karen Pasini Strating