Page 25 of Ask No Questions

Coach walked in and got our attention. "Ladies, I hope you're ready for today. If you have already been in my class before and have been approved for the advanced course, please move to the front of the class and sit against the mirrors. If you are being assessed today, please form three rows on the right side of the class. You will rotate, so don't bother trying to hide in the back. I will see you."

I was the first to stand, so I created the front row. Reluctantly, the others followed my lead. Little did Sandra—or Sydney—know: I had basically been in dance classes since I could stand on my own. My mother believed I needed the best training in all styles in order to live up to her—and sometimes my own—dream of being a professional dancer. I could handle anything Sandra could throw my way, especially since my previous team took Nationals then competed in Worlds taking second. I lived, slept, and breathed dance. It was who I was. I might be a tad rusty since I took a break over summer vacation, but I was sure it would come back quickly.

"All right, we will start with something easy to warm up and let you get comfortable. If you are nervous, there is no way you could perform in front of a large audience so get over it now. We will start with a jazz walk across the floor."

I shifted my feet into position, waiting with my right foot behind my left to be counted in as the music turned on, filling the room.

"…Five-six-seven-eight."

I watched the two girls behind me in the mirror miss the count in so they both stumbled to catch up. I really wasn't trying to embarrass the others, I just wanted to prove myself to Sandra and get her attention. The other girls caught up by the time we reached the other side and looked back at me nervously.

I smiled and leaned toward them. "Breathe and smile. That's most important. If you miss a count, don't let your face show it."

They both nodded, looking slightly more confident.

Coach Sandra clapped twice. "Good, now I would like pirouettes across the floor. If you have advanced training, now is the time to show it... Five-six-seven-eight!"

I started off toward the right side of the room. As I turned my head to spot, I noticed the girl behind me was struggling doing left pirouettes. Poor girl. I finished and watched the rest of the girls follow.

"Next, we are going to do a jazz leap combination: sashay, leap, step, leap, step center. Got it?"

I got into position, waiting for the count when I heard the girls behind me whispering in a panicked hush. I turned to them, trying to figure out what was going on.

"What did she say?"

"I don't know what that is!"

I leaned in toward the group. "I'll go first. Just watch what I do. It's basically three leaps."

They looked at me like I was speaking a different language. Maybe there was a purpose for the assessment after all. Sandra didn't want to waste the girls' time that already knew the fundamentals.

"...seven-eight."

I took two quick steps into sashay then performed the combination.

I got to the other side and turned back.

"That was lovely, Aubrey. Thank you for showing the class."

She looked at the group of girls.

"By show of hands, how many of you need her to demonstrate that again?” The majority of them shot their hands into the air. I noticed Sydney looking at me as if she was trying to burn a hole through my head. I smiled back.

"Aubrey, would you mind showing them step-by-step?'

I figured now was the time to get on her good side, so I nodded. I took the next five minutes, showing the girls the steps before Sandra announced it was time to start again.

I watched with pride as the majority of them did really well. Except for Sydney, she struggled from the start.

By the end of class, Sandra had thinned out our group after she asked about ten girls to take a seat. They had struggled through each set of across the floors routines and would be transferred to the beginning class so they could learn the basics. Sydney was among them, and she was fuming. Before we were told to change back into our street clothes, she stormed out, slamming lockers as she passed.

“Nice job! I think Sandra has a new favorite. What will I do now?" Cassie fake pouted as we walked to our lockers.

"I wish she likes me enough to put me on the team. I'm not used to only forty minutes a day. I need to find a studio I like ASAP."

"You should come check out mine! I have lessons four days a week, and after watching you today, I know you would love it."

"Really, Cassie? That would be perfect!"