Yep, you got it right- I am a professional ballet dancer--and ballet dancers are PROPER. WE are not allowed to have any visible piercings or tattoos apart from tiny stud earrings in earlobes. Ballet academies like the one I lived in until I turned 14 are totalitarian societies, so until recently the idea of piercing anything other than my earlobes didn't cross my mind-it was simply impossible. For professionals, of course, it is not a written rule-but if you show up to an audition with a facial piercing or a tattoo, there is no chance in the world you'll be offered a job.
At A Glance Author DharmaDancer Contact dharmadancer@rock.com When It just happened Studio Casssiopea Location New York City
When I was 15, I moved from Ukraine to United States. I contnued to dance, but this time I livedat home and attended high school as opposed to being locked up in a dormitory like a nun. It was the first time in my life I had any freedom, made fiends who did not study ballet, and became exposed to a wide variety of music. That was when I started to love rock music (which I was taught to consider "vulgar" by my very "classy" parents who know nothing about the real world). Some of my new friends had piercings that I, for the most part, liked-but I still believed that "it's not for me". Even if I dedided to get a piercing my parents would not consent.
During my senior year in high school, while doing a reasearch on modern primitivism, I finally realized that body art can be as highly symbolic in the West as it is in tribal societies. After much deliberation and research on the web, I chose to pierce my eyebrow. I also loved vertical brifge and temple peircings, which I plan to get done later on. Eyebrow seemed like a very neutral place to have pierced-and also very mysterious. I wanted to know if I could stand the pain, could go trough with it on my own, without the support of my parents. This piercing would signify my coming of agem, freedom, and new-found sense of self. Plus, according to one of my ex-boyfriends, I have "crazy green eyes of a witch" (the guy was a poet!), so I decided that a triple eyebrow will bring more attention to them asthe are my best feature.
There was another reason I should mention, although it may seem silly to some. I met a guy who is... wow, I don't think there is a word to describe him. To put it simply, I love him the way I haven't loved anyone before. And, since I love him, I simply cannot start a conversation with him. He is a bit shy, so he doesn't start a conversation with me either, so we constantly stare at each other. If I don't intervene, we will never go past the staring stage and I'll never get a chance to show him HOW flexible ballet dancers really are. This guy is into body art-so, by showing up in class with an eyebrow piercing I will give hima legitimate excuse to finally start talking to me.
My parents flew back to Ukraine for two weeks, and my friend Sasha moved in with me. I decided that now is the right time to get it over with. So three days before my 18th birthday I went to Underground Tattoo in the city. My blood was flooded with adrenaline, I was beaming with excitement. When I entered the studio, a heavily modified cute blonde behind the counter asked me if there was something she could help me with. After I said I wanted to get my eyebrow pierced, she asked for my ID. Upon looking at it, she refused to do it since I was not 18 yet (which really tickled me off because, as I said, my birthday was in three days). Despite my pleading, the girl was adamant and told me to come back in three days.
I was so excited about getting a piercing I wanted it done right there and then. I called my firend and temporary roommate Sasha and asked if she knew any parlors where they wouldn't ask me for an ID. It turned out that Sasha's
friend
worked in Kassiopea-a sister studio of famed Andromeda. To top it off, Kassiopea is located right next to the Underground Tattoo and Piercing. Sasha phoned her friend and asked to pierce my eyebrow despite the fact I'm not technically 18. The girl would do it and would also give me a 15% discount.
Triumphant, I crossed the street and asked Asian girl if it was her my friend just talked to. She said yes and showed me the instruments she would use. She asked me if I wanted her to explain the procedure, but since I;ve seen about ten of my friends get all kinds of much more extreme piercings than the one I was getting, I said I was going to be OK. She cleaned the area around my eyebrow,
marked the place I wanted pierced and showed it to me in the mirror. Then she put the clamp on, which was quite uncomfortable but bearable
By that time, I started to freak just a tiny bit, but didn't show it-after all, I have a reputation for being tough (despite the fact I'm NOT).
She proceeded with the piercing as I closed my eyes. My heart was jumping out of my chest, but at the same time it was a heavenly, unique and unforgettable experience. She put in the tiny black niobium barbell with spikes. It looked AWESOME and cost 40$ including the tip and jewelry. Staff was very friendly, and Kassiopea has a very clean feeling to it. The girl (whose name I forgot due to being overly excited) explained the aftercare, and I left in high spirits.
Now I can't wait to surprise my friends (and my future boyfriend) with awesome piercing. It did not hurt at all, and it doesn't hurt now. It seems to heel well, and I would suggest to anyone who wants to get a piercing-DO IT!!!