At the Ballet
Touring production portrayal by Stephanie Martignetti, Ashley Yeater, and Kirstin Tucker. (Paul Kolnik)
"At The Ballet" is the fourth musical number from A Chorus Line, and is a trio performed by Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie.
Lyrics[]
Sheila:
Daddy always thought that he married beneath him
Thats what he said, thats what he said.
When he proposed he informed my mother
he was probably her very last chance.
And though she was twenty-two, though she was twenty-two
though she was twenty-two
She married him
Life with my dad wasn't ever a picnic,
more like a 'come as you are'.
When I was five I remember my mother,
dug earrings out of the car.
I knew that they weren't hers but it wasn't
something you'd want to discuss.
He wasn't warm
Well not to her
Well not to us.
But everything was beautiful at the ballet
Graceful men lift lovely girls in white
Yes everything was beautiful at the ballet, hey
I was happy at the ballet
["thats when I started dance class"]
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
Sheila and Bebe: To a voice like a metrenome
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
Sheila: It wasn't paradise
Bebe: It wasn't paradise
Sheila and Bebe: It wasn't paradise
Sheila: But it was home
Bebe:
Mother always said I'd be very attractive
when I grew up, when I grew up.
'Different' she said, with a special something
And a very very personal flair
And though I was eight or nine, though I was eight or nine, though I was eight or nine
I hated her
Now 'different' is nice, but it sure isnt pretty
Pretty is what it's about
I never met anyone who was 'different'
Who could't figure that out.
So,' beautiful,' I'd never live to see
But it was clear
If not to her
Well, then to me, that
Sheila and Bebe:
Everyone is beautiful at the ballet.
Every prince has got to have his swan
Yes everyone is beautiful at the ballet
Maggie: Hey...
Bebe: I was pretty
Sheila: At the ballet
Sheila, Bebe and Maggie:
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
To the voice like a metrenome
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
Maggie: It wasn't paradise
Bebe: It wasn't paradise
Sheila: It wasn't paradise
Trio: But it was home
Maggie (spoken):
I dont know what they were for or against really, except each other.I mean I was born to save their marriage. But when my father brought me and my mother home from the hospital, he said 'Well I thought this was going to help, but I guess it's not'. Anyway, I did have a fantastic fantasy life. I used to dance around the living room with my arms up like this. My fantasy was that there was this Indian cheif. And he'd say 'Maggie do you want to dance?'And I'd say 'Daddy, I would love to dance'
[sung]
Bebe: But it was clear...
Sheila: When he proposed...
Maggie: That I was born to help their marriage and when
Sheila: That's what he said...
Bebe: That's what she said...
Maggie: I used to dance around the living room...
Sheila: he wasn't warm...
Bebe: Not to her...
Maggie:
It was an Indian chief and he'd say
'Maggie do you want to dance?'
And I'd say 'Daddy I would love to...'
Maggie:
Everything was beautiful at the ballet
Raise your arms and someone's always there
Yes everything was beuatiful at the ballet...
At the ballet...At the ballet...
Trio:
Yes everything was beautiful at the ballet
Maggie: Hey
Bebe: I was pretty
Sheila:I was happy
Maggie: I would love to
Trio: At the ballet