Summary

The author recounts their most embarrassing moment during a ballet exam at a musical academy in Munich.

Abstract

The author shares a personal story of their journey through a musical academy in Munich, initially seeking a more enjoyable and fulfilling life through dance, singing, and acting. Despite the initial excitement, the academy's intense pressure and harsh criticism from instructors, particularly the ballet teacher, turned what they loved into a burden. The narrative culminates in the author's most embarrassing moment during a ballet exam, where nervousness led to an uncontrollable bout of farting in front of peers and instructors. Although the incident was mortifying, it prompted the author to make significant lifestyle changes, including improving their diet and mindset. The experience, while challenging, taught the author valuable life lessons and led to a healthier life post-academy.

Opinions

The author initially enjoyed their hobbies of dancing, singing, and acting but found the reality of the musical academy's environment to be overwhelmingly stressful.
The ballet teacher is portrayed as particularly harsh and contributed to the negative atmosphere at the academy.
The author expresses that the performing arts industry, particularly musical theater, is highly competitive and unforgiving.
The embarrassing incident during the ballet exam is presented with humor in retrospect, despite the acute embarrassment felt at the time.
The author reflects on their time at the academy with a mix of nostalgia and relief at having left the environment, suggesting a complex emotional response to the experience.
The author believes in the importance of self-care and a balanced lifestyle, as evidenced by their dietary and mindset changes following the incident.
Overall, the author views their time at the academy and the embarrassing moment as a pivotal learning experience that contributed positively to their personal growth.

The Most Embarrassing Moment Of My Life

Ballerina in Red, created by author with hotpot.ai

I was in my early 20s. My life until then was a struggle. My private life was challenging and I hated school so much that I wished for my last school days so intensely that I had a hard time falling asleep almost every night.

But the day came, and I graduated from my business academy. I didn’t want to continue with this nonsense at the time, but I didn’t know what I should do otherwise either. I started a Google search with my hobbies: dancing, singing, acting. In the top 3 search results, I found a musical academy in Munich. It looked like a lot of fun, with entertaining shows, lively people, and an enjoyable life. So, I applied. My application was accepted, and I was invited to the admission test in Munich. I had to dance, sing, and act, alone and in a group. Do you think my most embarrassing moment happened during my entry exam? I must disappoint you, but hold on. We are almost there.

Brunett Young Woman in Munich, created by author with hotpot.ai

After being accepted into this musical academy, I experienced months of dancing, singing, and acting, but not in a fun way. The pressure on all the students was immense, and emotions were high. Every day one of us would burst into tears, run out of the practice room because of the harsh criticism from our various teachers, especially one — our ballet teacher. I don’t have words for him. It was bad.

Beauty and The Beast Musical, created by author with hotpot.ai

Initially, I came to Munich and wanted to attend this musical academy because I wanted to have more fun in my life. After a few months, I got to know this world from the inside. After 3 years of this musical education, we would receive approval for Ready for Stage, and then the fight would go on. For a role, you wouldn’t just need to be great; you would also need to be the exact type of human being (tall, short, blonde, brunette, slim, etc.). Thousands of great actors apply for the same role. It is a dog-eat-dog world.

Exam weeks were almost here.

Everything that I previously enjoyed became a burden. I didn’t like singing so much anymore, especially all those old classical songs in Italian were not my jam. I didn’t like dancing so much anymore either because my body rejected 6 hours of dancing for 5 days a week.

Back then I had a bad diet, a lot of inflammation, and I started to stress-eat more chocolate than ever. My body was in a lot of pain, and painkillers were my friend. Acting was still kind of fun because it was natural for me, but still, the pressure was on.

Our exam week had started, and on our second day, we had the very feared Ballet exam with our super strict Ballet teacher. I was so nervous. I felt like I wanted to run to the toilet, which I did. I ran quickly downstairs. Unfortunately, some of my colleagues were also in this super small toilet with only 4 different cubicles for a class of 30 (mostly girls). They complained openly about the stench while I was making not-so-delicious sounds on the toilet. I couldn’t help myself. My face must have been red like a tomato. But this was not my most embarrassing moment.

My most embarrassing moment followed right after that happened.

So I washed my hands and my face, got myself ready for my ballet exam. I got to the exam room back in time. I was in the second row, the second from the left. My stomach was still not very happy, and my hands were still shaking.

First, we only had to do some Ballett basics. All still going great. I had good form, my belly in, and I was very focused. Unfortunately, we also had to perform a series of jumps on the spot, and there it was.

My most embarrassing moment in my life:

Ballett Exam, created by author with hotpot.ai

I started farting, and I don’t mean one little fart that could have been the window or a shoe on the floor making this sound.

No, loud and strong farts.

I tried to hold it in, but it just didn’t work with this super nervous body. My body continued to fart, almost in sync with the ballet music. It felt like an eternity for me, but it was probably just 30 seconds, maybe 1 minute. I lost track of time. Some of my colleagues reacted; there was always some kind of bitchiness in the room, so fair enough. They opened a few windows, and then the air got better again. Oxygen. Finally. I was still in my exam and couldn’t just stop. What a disaster. My exam didn’t go so great either because the farting action of my body made me struggle with my focus, and I messed up a few things.

I still passed the exam, but I could have done so much better.

How did I react?

The best way I could back then. I ignored it. I was a great actress, but hey, who am I trying to fool? Everybody not just heard; they saw it, they smelled it.

Group of Young People Laughing in the Park, created by author with hotpot.ai

Lol.

Today, I find this story hilarious, but I had a few years in which I couldn’t even think of it without feeling like someone had just punched me hard in my stomach. I changed my diet completely, and today, in my 40s, I am definitely much healthier, have less inflammation, better gut bacteria, and a more positive mindset than I had in my early 20s.

I still fart, like we all do, but I don’t suffer from a bloated belly or too much gas anymore.

By the way, that was my first and last exam week at the musical academy. I saw no future for me in this harsh business at the time, and I don’t regret this decision. Still, I had a great time in Munich too, met cool people, and gathered a lot of life lessons that I will always appreciate. Even my most embarrassing moment became a valuable experience for me.

Never forget: We are all only human! :)

Feel loved, feel hugged.

Namasté

Your Alina

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