What I Did For Love

In my last dance class, I re-created the iconic scene from A Chorus Line. Not the opening number with a “5, 6, 7, 8!” but the “5, 6, 7, —OW!”

I ended up on the floor with a dislocated kneecap. Well, I am not the first dancer to have a joint twist out of place. Within minutes, I had full first aid action going on—popped back into place, elevated, iced, rested and compressed into a brace.

Since then, I’ve learned what it is like to sit in an Emergency Room for three hours to get x-rays, what it is like to live without health insurance for two days, filled out accident reports, proved that my insurance does exist, figured out how to use crutches (okay…crutch. I haven’t mastered two crutches yet) and currently, how to gimp my way around the campus with my leg immobilized.

On the bright side, I’m currently directing a scene for my acting class in which one of the characters is crippled and I’ve been a great physical example for the actor! On the many downsides: I am waiting to see how my muscles will be healing (while the kneecap was pushed back into place, there is a risk that I might have torn ligaments or tendons), I can’t perform in dance or stage combat until who knows when, and I’ve broken my “never had a serious injury” streak. I also found that I am bothered by knees and seeing them turn and bend. I’m just waiting for a plié to send another dancer screaming to the floor.

Which means, while I’m anxious to get this enormous brace off my leg, I’m also going to be really freaked out when I finally get to dance again—what if my knee gives out again? Will my knee ever be as strong and flexible as it was?

Then I think back to that last dance class right before my knee twisted—I was doing my favorite dance combination at the time. I was having a really nice day, with loads of energy and I had managed to stretch a little bit further in my warm-up earlier. I don’t know how long it will take but I really am looking forward to that next dance class.