Ballerina Bun Misfit -
By: Monicca Lebambo -
 Like any other dance or sport, ballet has its own rules and etiquette. One of the characterizations of a ballerina is the infamous ballet bun. It has always been a skill like a potter with clay in his hands to have the perfect rolled up bun.
Young ballerinas from my country to yours share ideas on how to twist and turn their hair into the excellently tied ball. However, not all hair types can easily be shaped into the perfect ballet bun. So, our African sisters who cannot achieve the look with their natural hair extend their hair with braids.
Linda, an African mother of a young ballerina, found herself in a different predicament after big chopping her 8 year old daughter’s damaged relaxed hair a month before the ballet examination. She expected the worst—what if her little girl was disqualified from the exam after many hours of hard practice? Her little heart broken, and worst of all, having to explain to her the reason that her hair wasn’t the 'right' length and the 'right' texture to make the bun 'just right'. It was at this time that she started thinking that maybe it would have been best if her little girl had settled for Zulu cultural dance instead of ballet.
On the day of the examination, the hair was still in its roots stage and could not be extended with braids. Even though the well manicured, perfectly round bun was required for the judging of this particular performance, the little ballerina gracefully came onto the stage looking unique and very neat; dancing her allegro confidently and beautifully.
A query was drawn and points were deducted but she was not disqualified. Even without the trophy, she still looked and danced just right!
March 1, 2010
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