Laverne Cox Instagram – This is just divine, utterly divine. I remember being so happy going on my first tour with the State of Alabama ballet when I was at the Alabama School of Fine Arts performing a few small roles in the Nutcracker in high school. I loved ballet so much. I still do. Being a ballet dancer wasn’t my destiny. But I worked really hard at it. It taught me so much about discipline, what it means to really work hard and improve, about history, music, the vaganova vs cecchetti methods etc. I also learned deeply about hating my body, self-flagellation, never being enough. Later i learned my perfectionism was rooted in shame. That took years to unravel. That journey continues. Both/ and right? … But this music from Tchaikovsky that I once had heard too much I was sick of it, I hear anew in this exquisite execution of Balanchine’s most musical of choreography in this exuberant performance from @ashleybouder and this wonderful orchestra. Dare I say this has me in the holiday spirit. Or maybe just in the spirit? Brava Ashley!!