A Suit Doesn't Cover the Ratchet

I had the extreme pleasure of going to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater  yesterday.  I’ve gone for the last few years, and it’s always great to see such expression through dance.  As I was walking up to the Fox Theatre, I was overcome with minks, 4 inch heels, dress suits, and other expressions of Sunday’s best clothing.  I instantly thought, “Oh Lord, black folks going to the ball-et.  They have got to show out.”  However, my mom instantly hushed me, supporting their efforts to look fancy huh, at this event.  I kept quiet.

With two minutes to spare, we were seated and ready to enjoy the show.  Throughout the show, I was impressed with the long lines, the delicacy, the lightness, and the strength of the dancers.  But you know what?  I was quickly reminded that everything that glitters ain’t gold….that a suit doesn’t cover the ratchet.  I would have been much more pleased had the dance guests simply googled “ballet audience etiquette” where you will find several articles surrounding this topic.  I will review a few rules here.

1.        You don’t have to clap after every move.-There are so many nice movements that the dancers perform.  You could quite frankly clap through the entire performance.  But that is not appropriate.  Clap after each piece or when the dancer performs an extremely difficult or challenging move.

2.       Go to the restroom on pauses and/or intermissions.-Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is so clever.  They place several pauses and intermissions throughout the performance.  It’s like they are trying to train our bladders!  Utilize those times to go to the restroom because going to the restroom in the middle of the performance is …dare I say it, rude!

3.       Return to your seat during pauses and/or intermissions.-Okay, so you have gone to the restroom during a pause or intermission.  Gold star for you.  But unfortunately time doesn’t allow you to come back before the dancers resume.  If you are not on the end seat, it’s proper to wait for a pause or a break between the dances to return to your seat.  You interrupt everyone else’s experience because of your bladder pressure.

4.       Do not leave until after curtain call. -  This has to be the most important.  After the most historical piece of Alvin Ailey, Revelations, the dancers come on the stage and do rounds of bows.  It’s like leaving church during alter call, it’s just…dare I say it, rude!  This was the worst display of movie theater etiquette that I saw during the performance.  They weren’t even finished “rockin my soul in the bosom of Abraham,” before people were trying to leave!  I was so disturbed. 

Thanks for indulging me in this explanation of ballet audience etiquette.  What I think made me more upset about this situation; however, is the false sense of professionalism and success that some black people own. People came dressed to the nines, but that’s it.  It’s not about how you carry yourself, the conversation that you can hold, or the words that come out of your mouth, it is about what you are wearing.  That makes you professional.  That is your exhibition of success.  I’ve seen this happen in so many instances of work, femininity, and class.  A suit automatically makes me professional.  High heels and polished fingernails make me a woman.  What I wear unequivocally makes me classy.  Well sir or madam, I do not agree.   These aforementioned things tell a chapter of my story, but they are disposable.  When I go home, and take all of these items off, what makes me classy then?   What makes me cultured?  It is how I hold my head up high, how I treat other people, what holds my interest, and what I think of myself supported by my actions that make me classy.  That’s my definition.