bout six weeks into class, one of Lisa’s classmates failed to show up for a session and [teacher Tatiana] Udalenkova motioned for [Lisa] to take the absentee’s slot at the center barre, a place of honor for students. A startled Lisa took up position at the barre and began her lessons, as usual turning out her heels at a comfortable angle. In the middle of a half-hearted leg bend, an exasperated Udalenkova began to shout at her in Russian: “Can’t you do anything more than that?” Lisa, who had been studying Russian for the past two months, strained for all she was worth and slowly pointed her toes at opposite poles.
“That’s it!” cried Udalenkova.
It was at that precise moment that the student’s real training began: Lisa Macuja had turned out not only her feet, but her attitude.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker