This monday, I supposed to perform in "Theme and Variations" again, like I did last time. There was a warm up class for all the dancers who were performing that night. I joined the class as usual to warm up well before the show. I was very concentrated during the class. I wanted to make sure that my whole body, every joint and every muscle was ready to dance on stage. However, when the class was nearly finished, a staff came in and was looking for somebody. Some dancers continued warming up, some didn't notice that the staff actually came into the studio, some looked at him and paid attention to who he was looking for. Generally, when I staff came in suddenly like this, it's because something usual happened and the castings of the performance have to be changed. I was one of those dancers who noticed his prescence and stared at him.......
          The staff finally looked at me and came straight to me. His expression was severe, as if he was going to tell me something unbelievable. That really reminded me of how another staff announced to me that I was going to replace in the "Elfes" soloist role in "La Source" back in December 2014 when I was still a student of the Paris Opera Ballet School. That staff had more or less the same expression! So what was he going to tell me!!??? Here's our conversation:

"Chun Wing, you are going to replace Julien.", said the staff. (Julien was another dancer who performed in Opus 19/the dreamer and Theme and Variations)
"In Opus 19??", I replied curiously, as I was already going to replace in Theme and Variations.
"Yes"
"Oh.... okay..... Hang on, tonight!!???"
"Yes, are you okay with that?"

          It was only 1h30 before the start of the show!!! And I had to replace a ballet that I have never danced! Yes the understudies could only watch at the back during the rehearsals and never get to really dance the choreography. I was very nervous about this replacement. And it's actually a quite difficult ballet! Finally, it went quite well thanks to the help of several other dancers. However, I slightly twisted my ankle on stage! That was a difficult situation because by the time I have finished this second ballet I had to get changed and get ready for the other ballet! Theme and Variations!! I was confused. Should I continue and finish the show with an injured ankle? Or should I protect my body and let somebody else replace me? Finally I decided to finish the show. There was an inner voice in me saying "Show must go on!" So I did the third ballet. Without hurting my ankle even more.

          Now I have nearly fully recovered from my injury. I restarted dancing today. I learned a lesson: When you are an understudy, be ready for everything. You will never know what we are going to ask you to do!

          Three days ago, the Paris Opera informed me that another male dancer got injured and that I would probably replace him in the performances in two days' time. So yesterday, I was asked to replace him on stage and I performed on stage as a dancer for the first time! 

          The ballet is Balanchine's Theme and Variations. And the role that I did was not more than just a corps de ballet role. I was also lucky enough that I rehearsed it once before the performances started. Despite the fact that it is actually not a difficult role, I have been very nervous in the backstage. I wanted to perform well and didn't want to make any mistakes on stage. Finally, it went quite well. I am probably performing again tomorrow night. Let's make it even better!