“Now we have Eric, the shy little shi-tzu, in sombre suit, pussy bow and ballet pumps, stepping hesitantly through the mysterious changing room door. But for all his shyness, Eric is the most important company member of all. Eric is a real VIP. The one on whose small shoulders the success of the company depends. He is now Maestro Erico Poochetti, Grand Ballet Master to the Pusska Moggyinsky Ballet Company.” With a click of his clogs, Marmie raises a paw in respectful salute.
“Of the oriental breed of shi-tzu, his life was mapped out before he was born. Named Eric, Super Hero of Excellence, his destiny wasn’t that of any ordinary dog. As the prized and pampered pooch of Lady Catherine Pluckers, he wasn’t going to be any old show ring champion. Eric was set to achieve the great and giddy heights of champion of champions at the most prestigious doggy-do of all, Ker-rufts.
“Unfortunately for Lady Catherine, Mother Nature had different plans. In spite of special diets and an intensive exercise regime, the young pup grew too big and his proportions were all wrong. He wouldn’t get to first base, let alone first place in a shi-tzu breed class. With her dreams of success and fame in the show ring shot down in flames before they had even taken off, Lady Catherine sought another young prodigy on which to pin her hopes; Eric’s cousin, a tiny female with all the right curves in all the right places. Festooned in diamanté and ribbons, the new puppy was placed on a velvet cushion and named Chrysanthemum Pie Princess.
“Never cut out to be a show ring softie, Eric kicked up his heels, delighted at leaving the claustrophobic comforts of Lady Plucker’s boudoir. He was bound for a free and happy life with old Charlie in the gardener’s cottage.
“It was Miss Daisy May, our rehearsal pianist, who introduced Eric to the ballet company. Entranced by the whole idea of dancing cats and animal musicians, the young pup studied hard, amassing a huge collection of books and films of the great ballets and greatest dancers of their time: furless folk like Pavlova, Nijinsky, Ulanova, Fonteyn, Nureyev and Russian ballet masters Nicholai Legat and Enrico Cecchetti.
Maestro Erico Poochetti
“Eric practised tirelessly at the barre and the floor, perfecting his technique and though he knew he would never be a great performer, dogs haven’t the same build and supple bodies as those of us finer feline species, there’s nothing he didn’t learn about the history and stories of the ballets, music, choreography, styles and techniques.
“When his predecessor, the strict and feisty feline, Madam Purdy Pluckers-Moggs, retired due to age, Eric was the popular choice for ballet master to the company.
“While working the dancers hard, he takes no nonsense from any slackers, getting good results from even the weakest of the team. When low on patience, Maestro Erico never starts yapping. A small bark or low muttering growls in a mixture of Russian and oriental shi-tzu, together with a quick swish of his tail, is enough to show his displeasure. He is highly valued by the management and respected and loved by all, from the kittens of Miss Marina Beaupoint’s Ballet School to the Corps de Ballet, to the soloists. Everyone agrees Maestro Erico Poochetti is a real top dog.”
Giving a deep bow to the Maestro’s portrait, Marmie glissades over to another row of pictures on the other side of the hallway.
“Now, the Pusska Moggyinsky Ballet Company would be nothing without the dedication and hard work of the musicians of the Moggyinsky Musical Ensemble, and the back stage and front of house crews. When the heavy crimson curtains swing open, we are transported to another world. We see the beautiful scenery and the soft lights; we hear the music but… who are they, the creators of all this magic? First let’s take a look at the music.”