Frauke Mariën (BE) - Generation 5

Dear Janet,

you taught us so much. Practical stuff like putting your weight to the front, leaning over your working side, or jumping higher by not jumping as a banana and learning this by jumping while holding your backpack as a pregnant belly.
But all these practical skills came down to something that was so much bigger: how to understand your body, how to not struggle with it (especially in ballet not always easy) but how to understand the movement and the momentum and to enjoy it. To go for it and move!
I still see you showing crazy, difficult turning diagonals, with your hand elegantly on your shoulder (with your wide, golden bracelet that you would use when explaining jetés at the bar - "pull it towards you") and your ballet shoes, and a beautiful smile of pure enjoyment and happiness on your face.
You brought such joy and positivity and were always there to support us and to keep on searching together how we could become the best possible dancers we could be.
I'm sad we didn't meet each other anymore for many many years, but your "tricks" and ideas and love for movement are for sure still very present in my head and body, and I often hear that it's the case for many many many of us.
So thank you, Janet, for being the best possible dancer, teacher and human you could possibly be. We were sooo lucky to have you with us.
Frauke