Indra’s blog: About the Performing Arts, Butterflies and a Standing Ovation

Indra’s blog: About the Performing Arts, Butterflies and a Standing Ovation 

When I was living in the Netherlands I would quite regularly go to the theatre. From a young age you were encouraged to go and see the performing arts. Through school, around age 13, I signed up to a theatre subscription. You would get a package of performances with a huge discount. Probably eight times a year teachers would take us to experience a theatre production. It could be anything. We saw musicals, plays, comedy and dance in all kind of forms. To be honest, it was pretty amazing. It was the excitement of going on a little trip, together taking the train to the nearest city and walking to the theatre. All the shows were fantastic in their own right: with some we laughed, with others we cried and often we would do all emotions in between as well. The little break in the middle, where we would get a drink and a snack, followed by the forever long queues for the loos, hoping to be back in our seats in time for the second part. And all this would lead up to the finale….. in whatever form that was, depending on what we were watching. And then…. The whole room would rise on their feet in appreciation and a standing ovation resulted in a little extra from the performers and a happy dance from us. 

The butter flies would run through my belly if all these people got up and cheered and clapped. I can only half imagine what it must have been like for the performers on stage. To feel the appreciation of the people that came to see them and had a great night. We would go home buzzing and speak about it for days. 

Growing up I mostly went for musicals. Usually with my sisters, sometimes my mum would come along too, or I would go with friends. We would have to save up.  After all… tickets are often not cheap. Even now we often gift each other musical tickets for celebrations.

A yearly visit to Holiday on Ice became some sort of a tradition too, that stopped for a while, but returned again with the kids being a bit older. And always there is that finale… the room that rises and the appreciation for the performance. 

As dentists there are always a lot of developments in our field. And here at Berwick Smile Dental Care we try to keep on top of it as much as possible. My continuing professional development (CPD) brings me in a lot of places, sometimes even other countries. Often alone, with a night or more away from my family, in a hotel. I usually like to grab a movie for the real big screen cinema experience with new releases. However, when I was in London for another course, I suddenly realised I was in the city of theatres and should really take my chance. 

I managed to get a really good seat for one of my favorite musicals: the Lion King. 

The entrance is the best part. If you haven’t seen it, make sure you sit on the lower levels and near one of the aisles if you can. It was absolutely fabulous. Obviously I couldn’t hide my excitement and at the end of the night I was the first to stand to celebrate the fabulous performance. I looked around. In the whole room were maybe 6 other people standing. Don’t get me wrong. People were applauding. It just wasn’t the same. Was this the cultural difference? The Dutch being more outspoken? I was so disappointed … for them.. not to be celebrated and cheered at in a way that was so normal to me… 

And then when I managed to take my boys to the Harry Potter productions…. No standing ovation either… I couldn’t explain to them how I felt. 

A few months later my sister came to Londen to stay with me on one of my courses and I took her to see Moulin Rouge. Surprisingly, the crowd went wild and almost the whole room was standing. So, clearly it can be done. Was this because the audience chose a bit of a more cheeky play?… Who knows…. But you can’t tell me those performers didn’t go home much more fulfilled. 

What I do know is that when we get shown appreciation by patients in the practice after we have helped them, it totally makes our day. Sometimes a card or some chocolates. Totally unnecessary, but always a winner in the staff room. Often it’s just that twinkle in somebodies eyes, or the big smile that shows some new pearlies, a thank you, a genuine hug or a little tear in the corner of an eye.

Nothing is better than to be shown some appreciation for your skills, for the hard work that the team pull off every time again. And when that all comes together and we give the patient the mirror to have a first look, I still get those same butterflies as the first time that standing ovation happened around me. 

Let’s stand up again for the performing arts, for all that we appreciate .. show some love. 

After all… Isn’t life a bit of a performance on itself.. 

Yours cheering and dancing with a big smile,

Indra x 

Just a small reminder that I am training for the Great North Run. I am taking on the biggest half marathon of the North East in aid of the Sick Children’s Trust and the Tiny Lives Fund. 

If you like to know more or help me support these amazing charities, you can do so here:

https://ajbellgreatnorthrun2025.enthuse.com/pf/indra-rampersad

It is greatly appreciated. Thank you.