Authors: Wendy Potocki
“Alexei,” Melissa murmured.
“Yeah, Alexei. Is this about that new ballet?” Kurt queried.
“I'll bet it is,” Christina responded, excitement beginning to grip her. Nervously bouncing up and down, Kurt wrapped an arm around her waist, trying to contain her enthusiasm.
Letting his two female companions have the last two seats, he stood behind them.
“Thank you for being a gentlemen,” Una began, acknowledging his gallantry. “And thank you all for assembling so quickly. Although misfortune has touched us, Velofsky’s goes on and Alexei has reached his decision. You are the final candidates for the lead roles in his ballet.”
“What?” gasped Melissa, not knowing how to express her feelings of gratitude. After all the negative feedback she’d received, it seemed impossible that life had spun around to her favor. Squirming to work off the excess energy circulating in her body, Kurt leaned down to give both girls a hug.
Una gave them a moment to celebrate. Well-versed in reading body language, there was a noticeable gulf between Zoe and the other two girls. Taking it in stride, competition sometimes bred unkindness and jealousy.
“Alexei? Would you care to talk to your hopefuls?” she remarked, after things had calmed down.
“Yes, I would. First, I would like to congratulate all of you for catching my eye. It is difficult to do and means you all have something extra. In terms of who will capture the leads of Desirée and Ramon, it’s still an open question. The only way to answer it is to see how you handle the choreography. It’s up to you as to who will sink, and who will swim.
“There are no front runners, and you will all be learning the title roles in rehearsals held after your regular classes. And in case you're wondering why there are only two men and three ladies, it is because I put my name into the running.”
All stunned by that pronouncement, yes, he looked like a dancer, but none had actually seen him dance. All looking at one another, they weren’t sure how to react.
Zoe raised her hand.
“Might I ask you a question, please?”
“Go right ahead, Ms. Ryan,” Una replied.
“Well, I've heard this will be a version that has never been seen. If it hasn't been seen, then how do you know the choreography?”
While Melissa would never have had the nerve to ask, she was glad someone did ... even if it were Zoe.
“It is a good question,” Alexei responded. “My great-grandfather was a dancer with a ballet company called Palace Ballet.”
A collective sigh was emitted by all of the group except one—Zoe. She looked clueless.
“I see most of you know your history. It's not surprising. Although short-lived, Palace Ballet was almost mythological in proportion. I think it was because of the exceptionally high standard they adhered to. It is a tribute to the founder and artistic director, Tivia Palace. She was an amazing woman, who insisted on the best, and got it.
“Palace Ballet had many successes, but Tivia was not satisfied. She wanted a work by which her company would be forever known. One piece of music in particular captured her attention as none other. It was
Danse Macabre
. So when she decided to commission a new work, it was this score that was chosen. My great-grandfather, Misha, was given the task of choreographing it. It was a great honor. He had already created some smaller pieces and she’d been impressed with what he’d done. He became obsessed with the venture, first trying out all the steps on his young son, who was an apprentice in the company. When he was satisfied, he would then involve the dancers. It was a crazy way to work, but this is what he devised. Once completed, it was presented to Tivia. She was enamored with the interpretation, and set the date for its debut, but a tragedy befell the company, and my family.”
“What was that?” Zoe asked.
“A fire. It tore through the building, trapping the entire company inside the crumbling walls. Everyone involved in the production was killed.”
“How horrible!” Tina said, grabbing at her stomach.
“Yes, it was. Fortunately, the young impressionable boy on whom the steps had been set remembered. When he grew up, he attempted to pass it on through the great Anna Tritta,” he said glancing at Una’s grandmother, “but another tragedy occurred when ...”
“Yes, another fire,” Anna continued morosely. “The ballet company was there one day, and gone like that! And the ballet? I never learned it. Not one step. Things never got that far,” she admitted with a sigh.
“The repeat in tragedy meant my grandfather never got to stage his father's work, but our family passed it down like a treasure. It is now only up here,” he said tapping his temple. “I look forward to it being,” he said spreading his arms in a port de bras, “out there. And through you, my great-grandfather's dream will come true. Now you can return to your classes. We will start rehearsals tomorrow, in Studio Three at four o'clock sharp and do not be late.”
The young dancers leapt up, all expressing their gratitude in animated chatter. The adrenalin kicking
up a storm, they rushed outside. The cool air hindering their high spirits, Kurt hugged Melissa and Tina. Unable to contain his joy, he took a running start.
“We're on our way ... up!” Kurt yelled as he vaulted into the air to appreciative applause.
Chapter Twenty-five
The next few days were a mixture of pleasure and pain. Constantly feeling that she needed a pinch to believe what was happening, Melissa and the four others worked with Alexei on learning the challenging choreography. The variations almost impossible, she was starting to wonder just how good the dancers at Palace Ballet had been.
Usually paired with Kurt, this afternoon was no different. Sweat pouring from Melissa's brow, it soaked her neckline with splatterings. Constantly rehydrating, she threw herself into the steps, but to no avail. As soon as she thought she had it, she'd be faced with a roadblock of not remembering.
Although Zoe would have loved to laugh at her, she was too busy trying to keep up. Not the star in this class, she wasn’t taking the demotion lightly. Casting negative glances about like chicken feed, she tried to make up for being late in the counts. Justin dug his hands into Zoe's ribs a little too roughly.
“Ow!” she screeched.
Apologizing, he released his hold, but her temper was set to explode. Not used to failing, it’s what she felt she was doing.
“That hurt! I'm not a sack of potatoes, I'm a girl, or hadn't you noticed?”
It was a question designed not to be answered. Whatever was said would be wrong, so he repeated that he was sorry instead.
“Here,” Alexei said, moving behind Zoe. “I will show you how it goes. Okay?”
Justin relinquished his position, joining the others in watching the primer on how it should be done.
“Kurt, can you start the music please?”
“Sure,” he said. Foregoing using a pianist, Alexei insisted on absolute secrecy. The blond danseur made sure the music was at the beginning of the track, a click signaling its start.
Up until then, Alexei’s talent had been a mystery. Marking the variations, he finally launched into the series of steps that demonstrated an exquisite musicality. The steps made sense the way he performed them. Each
unfolded to the next the way a flower blooms. While Zoe did her best to keep up, she constantly checked the mirror in order to be cued by him. Reaching the count for the lift to begin, he brought his leg down to fourth immediately after finishing the pirouette. Not lingering the way Justin had, he had plenty of time to gently grasp her waist. Tossing Zoe up the air, he caught her on the way down, setting her down as if a rare jewel in a setting.
The students broke into applause for the dance lesson that proved Alexei hadn’t included himself for egotistical reasons. He was really good. Zoe giggled in reaction, deluding herself into thinking it was for her. Kurt rolled his eyes at Melissa who merely smirked, dodging Zoe's very angry expression.
“Thank you, and I believe that will be all for today,” Alexei announced, ending another brutal session.
The troupe dispersing, they headed their separate ways. Melissa showered and changed, meeting Collette and Tina for dinner. Setting her tray down, she collapsed at the table, digging her fingers into the spot on her back that was aching.
“So how go the rehearsals?” Collette asked, amped about hearing all.
“Oh,” Missy groaned, putting her head in her hands.
“That bad? Or that good?” Collette teased, cutting into her grilled chicken.
“That bad,” Christina replied for both of them, drinking deeply from her glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. “I swear I know all the steps, but together, arrgghh!”
“Well, that's what happens when you hit the big time, girls! You two better get used to stepping up your game.”
“Yeah, I think it's a little too early to put our names on any marquees,” Melissa responded.
“I agree. Just because we're in the running, doesn't mean we're headed for the winner's circle,” Tina agreed.
“And speaking of horses,” Collette said, adeptly changing subjects, “Una told me that I turning into one … or was it a cow? Yes, I think it was the latter. Seems Velofsky Ballet only wants slim heifers, so I'm relegated to this,” she said poking at her none-too-appetizing meal with the tines of her fork.
“She said that?” Christina asked, her eyebrows raising.
“Yes, she called me a cow,” Collette teased. “A big, fat one!”
Christina and Melissa looked at each other, catching onto the humor.
“Oh, you!” Melissa said, pelting her with her straw's discarded wrapper. “I almost believed you for half a second!”
“It's true! Well, the part about me going on a diet. Look, I’m not talking about me being morbidly obese. I’m talking me not being the ideal weight to pursue a profession that demands peak physical conditioning.”
“But I thought you'd tried to lose weight before?” Melissa asked.
“No, not really. I mean, I never did give any diet a chance. I gave up after a couple of weeks, but this time I'm going to see how it goes. If I don't see a difference by the end of the month, I'll give up! I don't mean on ballet, I mean on ever having another type of body. Seriously, I think it's a great chance for me to see how far I can take this. Maybe a few less pounds will make me move a little differently.”
“I suppose,” Melissa said, giving up trying to argue.
“Oh, and I’m including an exercise element, so I just may be joining you guys at the gym. It's the treadmill for me! Twenty minutes at least 3 times a week.”
“Now that I can agree with whole-heartedly,” Tina said. “I know if I don't get in cardio, I'm a mess. Course,” she deadpanned, “it certainly didn't help me today!”
Melissa joined in the laughter, dramatically letting her upper body collapse onto the table. The combination of being tired, mixed with the infusion of rich food into her system, was giving her a fit of giggles. Resting her head on her hands until the laughter subsided, she looked through the huge picture window at two figures in the distance. Hard to see them in the dark, they were walking towards the woods.
“Say, who's that?” Missy asked, pointing her finger.
Collette and Tina craned their necks.
“That's Una and her grandmother. Una takes her for constitutionals. Every morning and evening.”
“Oh, I guess I've only seen them in the morning,” Missy replied. “I didn't know they took walks at night.”
“Well, 7:00 PM is hardly the witching hour.”
“I suppose,” Missy said, straightening up.
“She's nuts, you know.”
The trio turned to see who made the unkind judgment. None were surprised to see it was Zoe.
“Well, she is,” she repeated.
“You are so disrespectful,” Melissa blasted. She was so tired of Zoe's shit. “You're talking about someone that's eighty years old, you know.
“Well, she looks a hundred,” Zoe blasély continued, Melissa's venom not penetrating her steely exterior.
“I sooo hope you get that remark back one day. When the same thing happens to you, you'll see how it feels!” Melissa snapped, not willing to be deterred by turning a deaf ear to Zoe's hurtful words.
“I agree! In fact,” Collette stated beginning to pray out loud, “Oh, dear God in heaven, please let there be such a thing as karma.”
“Meh,” Zoe replied. Tossing off the criticism, she possessed the unique ability to shake off anything that didn't get her where she wanted to go. “It's been real,” she stated, ambling away.
“God, what a ditzo!” Melissa cursed under her breath.
“I know. Imagine saying bad things about Anna Tritta! You gotta have nerve to do something like that,” Collette added.
“Yeah, but nerve is the one thing she’s got,” Melissa responded.
“Well, I gotta go shower,” Collette remarked. “You two want to join me later? I’m planning on watching this awesome movie on TV. I think you can put off disappearing for one night, right?” she said, addressing Melissa.
“We'll see,” she replied, not giving anything away.
“Okay, then. It starts at 8 PM, if you’re interested,” Collette said, scurrying away.