Going to the Ballet on One Foot

Hopping on a walker into the Arsht Center's Opera House to see the Miami City Ballet perform Romeo & Juliet was a great experience.  Unlike previous times, I had to rely on the kindness of strangers to let me enter the theatre and then wait against the wall with the walker until the usher appeared with the wheel chair. My husband helped me and took the walker as I began the drive to the seats (front row left).  On the way, we met the Manager of the Theatre who asked if I thought I might be more comfortable in a certain row where I'd have more legroom and she could bring me some cushions so I could keep my foot up... "That would be great," I said.  I was wheeled to our seats and felt like royalty as we passed all kinds of sympathetic audience members along the way. Getting back to the car when we left, we were helped by a police officer and the usher Ivan, who went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable.

The only glitch was using the walker during intermission to go to the ladies room.  Of course, it wouldn't fit in a normal stall, and the handicapped stall is the last one down the aisle.  So hopping back and forth to go out again to the lobby was exhausting. Luckily, Ivan caught up with me and wheeled me back to the seat for the next act.

All's well that ends well. We enjoyed a wonderful evening of ballet and at the curtain call, the dancer Jennifer Kronenberg brought out her beautiful little girl dressed in a party dress with patent leather shoes. She and her husband, Carlos Guerra, are the most beautiful couple, and now they have a little ballerina to raise. So cute!