Just like every other little boy, when I was younger, I wanted to be a superhero, saving the day with all the grace and splendor that you would expect from someone in such fashionable tights.

Now that I have come to the realization that I will never be able to leap from building to building or fight super-villains and save the world, this dream has faded into nostalgia.

Or so I thought.

I found myself with an opportunity to don the heroic tights of destiny and have my turn in the spotlight, where I could be a star for all the world to see: I could audition for the Iowa State Center’s production of “The Nutcracker Ballet.”

So I did.

The auditions took place Sunday in Stephens Auditorium. Before leaving to try out, I limbered up for a while in the Daily newsroom so I wouldn’t pull anything or hurt myself at the auditions. While preparing, I also brushed up on some basic ballet techniques. It was much needed, seeing as how I have a very limited – nonexistent, to be exact – background in the art form. I was thankful for the support and advice from all of my coworkers at the Daily who do have ballet experience.

Take flight, graceful butterfly

Walking over to the auditorium in the drizzling rain, I tried to review all of the different moves and positions I had just learned and imagined myself doing them on stage.

As I opened the back door to the stage and crossed the threshold, I could feel that the moment of truth was at hand.

I approached the registration table with a fire in my belly and proceeded to ask the ladies working the table what I needed to do and where I needed to go.

Now, I tried to look up information on these auditions online, but I didn’t look hard enough. All the information I found was that the auditions were from noon until 7 p.m. With that in mind, I assumed I would be able to show up at any time and be fine. I learned the hard way that it is best to double check these types of things.

The lady at the table handed me a registration card and a schedule and told me the men were already on stage. I filled out the card as fast as I could so that I could join the others.

It was at that point that I gave up my birth name and became No. 271. I affixed my number to my shirt as I walked over to the stage.

There was already a large group of men and women dancing. They all looked so elegant as they moved across the stage. Their movements seemed to flow like water.

They finished their routine at almost the exact moment I set foot on the stage, and I did not have the slightest clue as of what to do or where to go. Luckily, what seemed to take forever to figure out actually only lasted a few brief seconds.

I was told to join the rest of the men in the formation by one of the people running the audition. Then we were all informed that there would be another basic routine because No. 271 came in late.

Focus, Dan! This is your livelihood!

As happy as I was that I wouldn’t have to start out doing some outrageously complicated ballet routine, I was struck with stage fright. All attention had been drawn away from the crowd and directed at me. My nerves began to get to me, but I couldn’t let that affect me. I had to do what I had come here to do.

I took a deep breath and held it in for a second before letting it go and beginning to dance.

The routine seemed fairly simple for ballet, which is really not that simple.

Step. Step. Spin.

I filed myself into line with the rest of the participants and we danced across the entire stage.

I knew that ballet was difficult and required a fair degree of skill, balance and ability, but it turned out to be a lot more complicated than I had anticipated.

When we finally stopped, I was a little bit dizzy, which I found out was because I did not turn my head properly during the spins. I went into it just spinning around, but I was informed later that to prevent getting dizzy I should have focused on a point while spinning and at the last second, turn my head 180 degrees. There are so many small things involved with the ballet techniques that I never even realized.

No. 271, meet No. 199

Almost as soon as we had finished, we were instructed to find a partner for the next routine. I was the only male without a dance partner, but luckily there was a woman across the stage who didn’t have a partner either.

So I paired up with No. 199 for my second and final test of the day. She was nice and seemed to have some idea of what she was doing. The routine was a series of smaller moves put together.

Thankfully we ran through them once to get the feel for it before actually being judged on it.

Step with outside foot. Step with inside foot. Turn. Spin. Woman walks around.

I was slightly clumsier than I would have liked, but overall I was pleased with my performance of that routine.

When we finished up our second run-through of the routine, we were thanked for trying out and I was told to kiss the hand of the woman I had just danced with.

And then, just as quickly as it had started, the audition was over. I put my shoes back on, removed my large “271” and walked through the rain back to work.

I had always known that the ballet was a very technical and complicated activity, but until I actually went and tried it for myself, I was not able to fully appreciate the skill ballet dancers must have.

I now and forever shall hold the utmost respect for all those men and women who dedicate their time and energy to this art form, for they possess the skills and coordination that I lack.

And dagnabbit, they make it look good.