Dancing on the Inside by Glen C. Strathy

Author:Glen C. Strathy [Strathy, Glen C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781938908293
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2013-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Secret Spilled

For a brief moment on her way home that day, Jenny wondered if her mother would take Mrs. Reyes’s phone call as the “sign” that volunteering at ballet was worthwhile. It turned out she did not. “It’s not enough to work hard,” her mother explained at the dinner table that evening. “I want to see some real results.”

Jenny’s father, on the other hand, seemed more impressed by the effort Jenny was making. When Jenny started to sort laundry after breakfast the next morning, one of her regular Saturday chores, her father surprised her by saying, “I’ll do that. You go get ready for your volunteer work.”

Ara arrived for dance class that day during the forty-five minute break after Veronique’s private lesson and before Grade Four Ballet. This was the time when Jenny usually ate lunch in the waiting room. Sometimes Kat joined her, but today she had some work to do in the office, so Jenny was by herself when Ara bounced in.

“Hi. You’re here early,” Jenny said, setting down her sandwich.

“I had an idea,” Ara announced, as she flopped down on the couch beside Jenny. “No one’s here yet, are they?”

“Just us,” said Jenny.

“Why don’t we go into the studio and do a little practice before class? You’ve never danced on a sprung floor before, have you?”

Jenny hesitated. “I do a little bit when I’m helping out in the morning classes.” Jenny decided not to mention that Kat had taken a few minutes that morning to give her some corrections. She didn’t want Ara to feel left out.

“I know—a few stretches and demi-pliés. But what about some of the things I’ve seen you do at my place? It’s way more fun when you have a big space to move in. Besides, the more you become used to dancing in the studio, the braver you’ll be about participating in a real class.”

Jenny thought about this. There had been times when Jenny found the studio empty—either before or after class—that she had been tempted to try out the real barre or see how far she could leap when there was no chance of bumping into furniture. But her fear that someone might burst in unexpectedly had always stopped her. “Okay,” she said hesitantly, “as long as we stop before anyone else arrives.”

“Great,” said Ara. “Meet me in the studio in five minutes.”

Jenny quickly finished her lunch while Ara ran off to the girls’ change room to get into her leotard, tights, and slippers. When they met in the studio a few minutes later, Kat was still busy elsewhere. The room was empty.

“Let’s close the door, okay?” Jenny asked. “In case anyone else arrives early.”

“Okay,” said Ara. She pushed the door most of the way shut.

“Let’s start with the barre,” Ara suggested.

Jenny stepped up to the barre and put one hand on its polished wooden surface. She put her feet and other arm in first position. Ara came over and leaned against the barre, facing Jenny. “Go on,” said Ara,

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