“It’s hard starting somewhere new,” Mom said. “I met some of the other mothers. Their daughters have been dancing together since they were little.”
My mom had been the team mom last year and used to work behind the front desk helping with the bookkeeping at my old studio. She had known all the other moms for years too. I hadn’t thought about how she might be missing her people, as well.
“It’s an adjustment for all of us,” Dad said. “We have to look for the good parts.”
“There’s one other new girl, Lily, who seems really nice,” I said. “Her parents own the frozen yogurt place near the dance studio.”
“They have good frozen yogurt in Florida.” Hailey nodded happily. “They let me put on so many gummies I feel sick.”
“Oh,” my mother said. “Wonderful.”
“Oh, but also,” I said, “everyone did compliment me on my pirouettes.”
“Well, they should!” Hailey was indignant.
“Well, the other girls are really talented,” I said. “Huge handsprings, back tucks, crazy good performance skills, and the fastest tap dancing I ever saw.”
“That’s good,” Dad said. “You want to surround yourself with the best so you can learn from them.”
“And so your team can win competitions,” Mom added.
“On the bad side, if everyone else is really good, then you could be the worst one and make everyone lose,” Hailey said.
“Hailey!” Mom admonished her.
But that was exactly what I had been thinking. What if I was the weak link?
“Whose turn is it to take the dog out?” Mom asked.
“Jack’s!” Hailey said, joking. Jack was our older brother. He went to college back in Connecticut and had decided to stay up there for summer classes. Although he’d already gone there for a year, it was a little weird that he couldn’t just get in his car and come home anytime he wanted to do laundry anymore. But, it also meant that I was the oldest sibling in our house. So, I was kind of the boss!
“Hailey’s!” I said, jumping up. “Sorry, I have to go watch my show!”
“No fair!” Hailey whined.
“I’ll do it tomorrow when your singing show is on,” I made a deal with her.
I gave my mom another thank-you hug for the mini shopping spree and headed upstairs. Yay, my show was on! I liked all the shows that had dancers on, but this one where kids competed against one another with professional dancers was the one I made sure to watch live so I didn’t get any spoilers.
I went into my bedroom. I’d spent the last two weeks since we’d moved in setting it up, and I was pretty happy with how it had turned out. The walls were white and my bedding was white with deep purple fluffy pillows on it. I had a lavender chair and some of my stuffed animals on the bed.
My parents had put up shelves for things I brought home from dance competitions: all kinds of trophies, medals, and other kinds of plaques. On a large bulletin board, I’d hung my ribbons and pendants and thumbtacked up my special award certificates:
Excellence in Technique
Best Precision
Synchronized Prize
I also had a bookshelf for my favorite books and framed pictures of my friends from my old dance team and from school. In my closet, along with my regular clothes, were my old costumes. I couldn’t bear to part with any of them. Hanging on the closet door were all the headbands, ribbons, and bows. It was definitely the room of someone who liked to dance! And someone who was an organization queen, with everything neatly folded, stacked, and tucked into its proper place.
I’d kept a corner of my room empty so I could stretch and even dance a bit.
I set my laptop up on the floor, angled so I could see the screen as I stretched. I had voted for my favorite dancer, so I was hoping she wouldn’t get sent home tonight. I heard a scratching noise at the door. I got up to let Mo in—and behind him was Hailey.
“Can I watch it with you, please?” Hailey begged.
Sigh. I liked to watch my show alone and really focus on the dance moves. But I knew my sister hadn’t had the chance to make any new friends yet and was lonely.
“Okay, come on in,” I said. “The judges just gave harsh critiques to my favorite dancer, so I’m scared.”
We sat down on the floor and watched together, Mo included. I used my foot stretcher on each foot while I watched the performers do dance moves I dreamed of doing someday.
“The boy should win,” Hailey said.
“Don’t you disrespect my favorite!” I said. “Mo, am I right or am I right?”
Mo inched closer to the screen and rolled over.
“He wants to be on the show.” Hailey laughed. “We have to teach him to dance! I’ll be right back.”
“Do you want to be a dancer?” I scratched Mo’s tummy, and he leaned into me as if to say, yes, he did. Or, to be honest, Yes, whatever you say as long as you keep scratching me.
Hailey came back in holding a bag of dog treats. Mo stood up on his back legs and tried to get the treats.
“Dance!” Hailey commanded. “Harper, show Mo what to do. Do a twirl.”
I stood up and did some turns. Hailey circled her hand around, so Mo would get the idea. Mo stood on his back paws! He was going to dance!
“AOOOOoooo!” Mo howled.
Hailey and I both cracked up, hysterical.
“AooOOOO!”
“Not sing! Dance!” I said, clutching my side from laughing. “I’m dead.”
“I guess Mo is a singer like me. He can go on a singing show instead.” Hailey shrugged, giggling. “High five, Mo.”
Hailey held up her hand to high-five. Mo licked it instead. We started laughing again. Hailey gave up and gave Mo a treat, which he ate and then promptly lay down and fell asleep.
“Well, dancing is hard work.” I laughed. “It can wear you out. But, Mo, you can’t give up so quickly; it takes a lot of practice.”
Like I needed to do. I sat back down and got out the foot stretcher again.
CHAPTER
7
I would be taking two kinds of classes. Some classes were just for our competition team, with the five of us. They would help us learn our routines and other skills we would need for competition. The other kind were classes that were open to other dancers at the advanced level. These dancers might be on the younger competition team, or prepping to make our team someday, hopefully.
Today, I would be taking my first class with dancers not on my team. It was a lyrical class for the intermediate/advanced level.
As I walked in, I saw there were about fifteen girls and boys all stretching, talking, and getting ready for class. A couple people turned and looked at me. One younger girl whispered to another loud enough for me to hear: “She made the Squad.”
I gave them a little smile. I remembered what it was like to want to be on my old studio’s older competition team, and I wanted to be a good role model for them. I pulled off my sneakers and put my bag in a cubby. I decided to dance in bare feet today. I was wearing a gray cami top and black-and-white leggings. I gave myself a quick spritz with my vanilla scent and inhaled a calming breath.
“Spread out!” Vanessa called out. She turned out the lights and some soft lyrical music rang through the studio.
We all scattered into three rows. I spotted Lily across the room, but she didn’t see me. The Bunheads were front and center. Since we were partway through the summer session, I was joining a class in progress. I found a spot on the floor in the back. In my old studio, I’d try to be up front for most classes, but I wanted to ease into it here.
Then Lily turned around and spotted me. She quickly wove between people to get to the back and stood next to me.
I followed the student leading the stretches. We stretched side to side, then did some neck rolls. People were talking a little bit during stretches. When Lily’s head was turned toward me, she whispered, “Hi! Aren’t you excited?”
“Yeah.” I nodded and smiled at her. “T
hanks for coming back here.”
“Oh, look! Wait for it . . . ,” Lily said, pointing to the clock on the wall.
“11:11,” we both said as the clock turned. I closed my eyes and made a wish. I’m not telling what it was, but let’s just say it had to do with friendship.
Vanessa clapped her hands for our attention.
“We’ll start with a new lyrical combo,” Vanessa said.
“Did you come from ballet?” I asked Lily. She was wearing a black leotard, pink tights rolled up to her ankles, and a tight bun.
“Yes, a private lesson,” she said. “My parents said I have to do two ballet privates a week to keep up my training.”
“You’re lucky,” I said. “I can’t take any privates yet.”
“Ugh, but it’s ballet. They don’t let me flip upside down in ballet,” she groaned. “Hey, did you see Dance-Off last night?”
“Yes!” I lit up. My favorite had been safe! “I was so happy my fave didn’t get eliminated.”
“Me too,” Lily said. “But I also like the hip-hop girl. If those two don’t make the final three, I seriously will cry.”
“My second favorite is the tap dancer,” I said. “He’s so precise.”
We talked about our show for a few more seconds, until a singer’s voice and a slow song flooded the studio. We all focused our attention on Vanessa. She waited so we could listen to the music and prepare the mood.
“Start with a four-count hold,” she said. “Then a lunge, swinging your foot through.”
Dances are complicated, so they are taught in combinations. The teacher will break down the moves into eight counts, so you remember dances in these chunks, or combos. Then you put the chunks together. For this combo, Vanessa had us start with a lunge, then reach our right hand toward the sky and arch our backs. Then we finished out the eight counts melting down to a ball, bringing it in. Once we’d practiced each eight-count combo individually, Vanessa said we would run through the whole routine.
“Take it from the top.” Vanessa counted off and then we went into the moves.
I watched myself in the mirror as I did the combo. I didn’t get mine all the way, but I noticed Megan did easily.
“And again!” Vanessa said. “Watch those feet! Five, six, seven, eight.”
The two girls in front of me stepped toward each other and accidentally crashed, and everyone laughed as the music stopped.
“Sorry!” The girls laughed again and hugged each other.
After we got that combo, we moved to the second one: a développé into a jeté. Then some more lyrical moves, ending with a needle—a move where you literally try to make a straight line with your body and leg. I pulled my arms straight above my head and tried to get my foot as high as possible, arching my back. Then I held it.
I did my best to focus on myself, but with the Bunheads in front of me, reflecting back in the mirror, I couldn’t help but notice them dance. Riley looked like she was having so much fun, working her facials even as we rehearsed it. Trina was fluid and lovely. And Megan’s needle was incredible. She had her leg so straight it was like she was in a perfect split, and she was making it look effortless. She had a really flexible range of motion and worked it every time we did the steps.
We all went through the combo from start to finish, and then applauded for ourselves. Lily turned to me and held out her fist and I punched it.
Vanessa turned off the music.
“Next, line up by the mirrors. It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for all month! Our lyrical freestyle competition!”
Freestyle competition? I looked at Lily, and she looked back.
Someone whooped and everyone laughed.
“We will run three groups. Count off by threes, please!” Vanessa called out. Then she looked over at Lily and me. “If you’re a new dancer this month, please come to me.”
Lily and I stood up. We went over to Vanessa and joined an older girl who also must’ve been new. Vanessa explained to us what was happening.
“Every month, we have a dance-off to show off everyone’s new skills. Each group will improv for one minute, and we will vote on the winner of each. You three may sit down and observe.”
Cool. I slid down to sit on the floor, and Lily sat down next to me, with the other new girl on her other side.
“So we don’t have to dance?” Lily whispered. “Whew. I was stressing!”
I knew what she meant. Dancing and being judged when you’re new is nerve-racking. But I also had a moment of envy. I loved to dance—and I loved to perform. Sitting on the sidelines was easier, but also, I wondered how I would do if I were up there too.
“Group one out on the floor!” Vanessa called out. “Groups two and three take a seat along the mirror!”
A slow song came on, and group one began to dance.
I watched them all. Some were dancing softly, and some were fierce even in the lyrical style. I sat back and enjoyed watching everyone’s unique styles. I thought about what I would do if I went up there. I pictured myself doing a bunch of turns, bringing up my hands dramatically, then reaching toward the audience and sliding into a split on the floor and rolling my head and Vanessa announcing the winner was . . . me! And everyone clapping for me!
Then I flashed back to reality and saw myself in the mirror, sitting on the floor in the corner, twirling the ends of my hair.
“Five . . . four . . . three,” Vanessa counted down so everyone could finish up with a strong ending. “Two . . . one. Stop!”
Everyone stopped dancing. The dancers then lined up and turned around the opposite way so they couldn’t see us. Vanessa told the seated dancers to raise their hands to secretly vote for their winner.
She pointed at the first girl, and a few dancers quietly raised their hands to vote for her. Vanessa didn’t look to us new girls to vote. An older girl won. I could agree with that decision. She had a really good connection to the song, and you could feel she was dancing her emotions. That was something I sometimes had to remind myself about.
“Group two!” Vanessa called out. The next group included Megan and Trina. The music began, and the girls started dancing. Megan’s dancing immediately caught my eye, and when I looked down the line of us at the mirror, I could see a lot of people also watching Megan dance. Trina was really good too, especially her facials as she did elaborate moves one after the other. But when Megan held her leg turn and then stopped and let go of her leg and held it, all eyes were on her.
This time it was practically unanimous.
“The winner of the second group is . . . Megan!” Vanessa announced.
“Group three!” Vanessa called out. Riley and a few other dancers went up to the floor.
“New students!”
Lily elbowed me. Vanessa was looking at us.
“Does she mean us?” she whispered.
“Yes, I do!” Vanessa heard her and replied. “Now that you have observed the process, please join group three.”
Lily and I and the other new girl looked at each other like, Yikes! I had misread that situation. We did have to dance.
Eek!
I followed Lily out onto the dance floor and tried to psych myself up to compete. There weren’t enough girls to hide behind, so everyone was pretty much front and center.
The music came on. So I danced. I just went with the music and danced the moves I’d visualized before. I committed to it, just as I had in my daydream. There was room on the floor, so I did a jeté in second, oversplitting and leaping high in the air. Then I did a turn series that felt right, bringing my hands up dramatically.
“Five . . . four . . . three,” Vanessa counted down.
Then I reached toward the audience and slid into a split on the floor, and rolled my head down.
“Two . . . one!”
Everyone stopped dancing. I snapped out of my dance zone to see the class lined up on the floor along the mirror, watching us.
I suddenly felt self-conscious as I turned to face away fr
om the class so I couldn’t see the voting.
“To vote for your winner, quietly raise your hand,” Vanessa instructed. Just as she had with the previous two groups, I knew she was pointing at each of us for votes.
“Turn around,” she told us. “And the winner of group three is . . .
“HARPER. Congratulations, Harper.”
Harper? Harper as in me?
Everyone started clapping. I immediately looked apologetically to Lily—but she was clapping harder than everyone. Eee! Yay!
I won! I showed DanceStarz I could dance! Woo hoo! I was really excited. I went back to the mirror to sit down with the rest of group three and enjoy my victory.
“I need the three winners back up here, please,” Vanessa said.
Top three, baby! I jumped up and stood with my fellow winners on either side, smiling appreciatively.
“Next,” Vanessa said, “the finalists will dance off to be the July lyrical freestyle champion.”
Oh great, it wasn’t just to show off the top three. I had to dance again! Deep breath, Harper, deep breath. I didn’t have anything planned, so I was just going to have to let the dance flow. I looked at the girl next to me and we smiled at each other. Then I looked at Megan and smiled. She gave me a stone-cold look.
“It’s a battle to the death,” someone murmured, and people giggled.
“You have one minute to dance,” Vanessa said, and turned the music on.
So I danced. I listened to the music for a moment, closed my eyes and raised my arms, and then I went all in.
I started out with a layout and a more simple footwork sequence. I threw everything I had on the floor. I had my toes pointed, my arms in the right position, and I was feeling it, so I went into some pirouettes for a turn series.
“Five . . . four . . . three.” Vanessa was giving us the heads-up.
And that’s when it happened. Megan did a forward roll right in front of me as if she didn’t see me there. Ack! I heard everyone gasp. I almost tripped over her, but at the last minute I raised my leg over her and did a side kick over Megan’s head.
Whew! Avoided a collision!
I thought Megan would roll out from under me, and I started to lower my leg—but then I realized she was still there! She had started to stand up, apparently thinking I was done dancing.
The Audition Page 4
