Authors: Wendy Potocki
A waltz combination came next, followed by petite and grande allegros. Melissa soared through them, feeling things in all the right places. An invisible pair of hands held her under her rib cage, sustaining her in the air and allowing her to display balon. Her feet fully pointe in the final saut de chats, her legs hit an oversplit. Her upper body relaxed, she made the jump look effortless. Exhausted, but happy with her debut performance, she still hadn't gotten any corrections or comments from Viktor. Wondering if he’d even noticed her, she was determined to do even better the next time so that he would.
Since the big jumps usually signaled the end of most classes, the bulk of the students began the de rigueur applauding of the teacher. Thinking the class was over, Viktor had a surprise up his sleeve.
“No, no, I am not finished! We are going to try one more thing. Fouettés. Thirty-two of them. I'm breaking you into four groups so you'll have plenty of room to collapse!”
A loud groan erupted amongst the students. Understanding her peers’ anxiety,
fouettés were not some dancers’ thing. A natural turner, she didn't have any problem with them—at least not normally. Right now she was as tired as the rest of the students, but that’s probably why Viktor was giving them. He was most likely giving them as a test—to see how they performed when they were exhausted. Since fatigue often occurs on stage, it was important to see whether they could keep their technique together when this tired.
Zoe was in the first group. Not doing a bad job, she only finished twelve out of the thirty-two counts—not even bothering to try for more. The more Melissa saw her, the more her façade dropped. Although astonishing beautiful, there was a strange coolness to her. Seeming as if she danced behind a plate of glass, she was on display, but not tangible. With no warmth or passion, Zoe was all calculated technique.
The second and third groups followed, Brandi and Collette showing what they could do. Brandi was clearly off her game. If she’d performed this way in the audition, she would have never been accepted into the school. The judgment wasn’t harsh, just realistic. Her arms flung wildly, her body lurched from the unsteadiness of not holding her core. Her eyes staring down at the floor, her supporting side was collapsing and throwing her to the side. It was hard to watch so Melissa looked away.
The turns looked so different on Collette. While she didn't have a classic body, she had skill and technique. Her fouettés were clean and done without a wobble. Although she’d favored her right side, it wasn’t something that would get her eliminated. Melissa's turn, the space front and center cleared. Wondering if she should take it, she'd be right in front of Una. Accepting the challenge, the pressure would be even worse on stage. Besides, she had something to prove to them.
Once the pianist started the familiar strains of the Black Swan, Melissa dove into the series. Her right leg whipping feverishly, it propelled her around. Viktor locked his eyes on her, his gaze never wandering. Hobbling over in front of her, his large body blocked the mirror. The maneuver was designed to throw her off, but instead of panicking, she began spotting his face and not her own. When she did, something in her clicked. It was as if he were the only one in the room. His eyes keeping her spellbound, she melted into the music, beginning to sprinkle in multiple turns. Viktor broke the shunning, speaking to her for the first time that day. “More triples!” he screamed, tapping his cane into the floor for emphasis. Her body followed his command. Ending the sequence with six revolutions, she alit into a beautiful fourth position. No time to rest, the intro was given for the left side. Still under his spell, she magically rotated, giving herself over to the music. Her right foot digging deeply into the ground on the plié, she sprang up on a perfectly arched foot. Her weight between her first two toes, the box dug into the floor. Her balance exquisite, her upper body was perfectly composed. Completing the difficult passage magnificently, she stayed in a passé for half a second before concluding with a flourish. In shock and still under Viktor’s control, he shuffled forward, his cane drumming out his intention of saying more. Beaming, she came out of the ending position, waiting for the compliments she was sure would come.
His fleshy face took on an ugly expression. His eyes bulging, his face was florid with an unflattering rush of blood. Wagging the tip of his black cane at her, he kept her at bay.
“
That
,” he emphasized, “is how you should perform your adagio! By being one with the music and not running ahead of it like a virginal bride from a sacrificial alter! When you do that, you will be something to take seriously and not something that is merely wasting my time! And next time,” he shouted running his cane over the material of her leotard running down the center of her back, “do not wear such a leotard in my classroom! The beauty of a ballerina is shown through her spine! If you have one, show it! Now get out of my way! Class is over!”
Jumping before she was crushed under the stampede of two thick legs and a wooden walking stick, she was in shock over the unnecessarily harsh criticism. Coming out of left field, it wasn't deserved. Skewered not only for her dancing skills, but for her leotard, was it fair for a teacher to point out a problem in technique without giving a solution? Embarrassed, she pivoted towards Una. Already packed and ready to leave, she heard Zoe and her partners in crime laughing hysterically at the upbraiding. Dejectedly walking to her dance bag, Brandi and Collette were there to try to console her.
“Where did that come from?” Collette asked, placing her hand across Melissa's shoulders. “Those turns were nice!”
“Yeah, and your developpés don't really suck. Well, not that bad, anyway,” Brandi offered. Melissa’s opinion changing again, the girl really was an idiot.
“Poor, poor, Melissa!” came the one voice she didn't want to hear. The toxic ballerina had come over to pour salt in her wound.
“Zoe, I don't think that she needs that right now,” Collette advised, trying to squeeze in between the two girls.
“Well, isn't that cute? The fat girl is sticking up for you! What did you do? Give her your candy bar? It doesn't matter. I just came to tell you to pack your bag, because you'll be leaving soon.”
Her two friends exploding into loony laughter, they evidently thought her cruel remarks funny.
“I wouldn't count on that, Zoe. Not by a long shot,” Melissa shot back.
Her sharp rebuke silenced the hilarity as Zoe icily regarded the girl that wouldn't go down without a fight.
“We'll see,” she retorted confidently. “We'll see.”
Chapter
Six
“He just doesn't like me.”
Touring the grounds, Melissa let off some steam to Collette. Sharing her feelings about the old Russians teacher’s treatment of her, her friend was resistant to the idea.
For Melissa, the past week had felt more as if she were running a gauntlet than studying dance. While the irascible teacher hadn’t given up his penchant for humiliating her with cutting remarks, she did her best to ignore the daily barrage. Soaking up as much training as she could, the situation with her roommate wasn’t helping. Trying to avoid interaction, it was difficult, but the chance discovery of an unused classroom in an adjacent building gave her the option of hiding out in the evening. Disappearing after dinner, she’d remain there until her roommate was safely asleep, evading the dimwit’s irritating observations.
Severing the ties to Brandi drew her closer to Collette. Bonding with the humorous girl who obsessed about her weight and not her immense talent, she forgave the insecurity since in every other way she was completely level- headed.
“I disagree. I think he’s just hard on you because you're good. Teachers like Szelak don't waste their time on people with no talent. I mean, has he said anything to Bran ... oops!”
Putting on the brakes, she screeched to a halt before saying the name.
“You mean, Brandi.”
“Oh, gosh! I didn't mean to say that! Please, don't ...”
“Tell her? Why would I? There's no love lost between us. She's a sweet kid, but clueless. And I'm with you. I have no idea what she's doing here either.”
“Melissa!” Collette admonished, trying to defend the friend not here to do it for herself.
A touch of frost was in the late afternoon air. Summer officially over, the crisp crackle of dried leaves snapped under their feet. Attesting to their demise, Melissa raised her face, feeling the breeze on her dewy skin. The cooler temperature refreshed her, allowing her to recover from the brutal load of classes that they were required to attend. Digging her hands deeper into her pockets, she vowed to bring along mittens the next time.
“Look, I'm not trying to be nasty or bitchy. It's just the truth. The first day, I put down to nerves, and getting used to new teachers, but she’s gotten even worse! She's just bad! Really bad! There were lots of girls at my audition that were better. Why they're not here, and she is ....” Melissa remarked, shrugging her shoulders.
“I do know what you mean,” Collette responded, “I just don't think it's right talking like this. After all, she's my friend and ...”
“… and good friends don't talk behind each other's back? You're right and that's why you're special, Collette.” Giving her an approving hug, she whispered, “Thanks for being there for me.”
“Hey, you two! Wait up!”
The shrill voice interrupted Collette’s reply. They both turned to see Brandi cutting across the field at breakneck speed.
“Speaking of the Devil,” Melissa ungenerously remarked.
“Oh, you!” Collette rebutted. “Now stop or she'll hear.”
“You're right. I'm veering into being mean. That's Zoe's territory.”
“What about Zoe?” Brandi asked in between gulping air. Winded from the long distance run, she choked down quick breaths to still her rapid heartbeat.
“I should be asking you that question. How is your bff?” Melissa prodded.
“I don't know what it is between you two, but she's really nice.”
Not believing that she was back to spreading that lie, Melissa gave Brandi a disgusted look that tinged on contempt.
“Well, she is!” Brandi whined. Becoming frustrated in not being able to bridge the gap between Melissa and Zoe, she wanted them all to be friends. Feeling that Melissa was the one stopping it from happening, she persisted. “If you'd just talk to her you’d see! How about having dinner with us one night? I'm sure she'd love to have you ...”
“Could we cut the crap?” Melissa shot. “Might I remind you of what she said to your other friend who is walking right next to you?”
Brandi glanced at Collette. The memory of Zoe's cruelty came back in full bloom. Going silent, she trudged along the dirt trail.
“That's better.”
“Except we don't have a subject for our next, much more pleasant conversation,” Collette responded, attempting to mollify the rift. “Let's see, we can discuss dreamy boys … or the upcoming performance …”
“Boys!” screamed Brandi, jumping up and down with excitement. “God, that Justin is such a dancing god! I'm trying to get paired with him in partnering class, but I keep getting stuck with that Bradley jerk, when it's Justin's hands I want around me!”
“Yeah, well, I wish anyone's hands could fit around my waist!”
“Stop putting yourself down, Collette! You have a nice figure!” Melissa countered, tired of the endless self-criticism.
“Thanks. It's a shame no one that counts thinks so. No offense or anything.”
“None taken, but I don't want to talk about boys. I'm here to get a spot in the company and not to be moonie-eyed over some stupid group of boys that I barely notice.”
Collette and Brandi exchanged suspicious glances.
“Alrighteee then!” Collette called out brightly, skeptical that any teenage girl could really not appreciate the male eye candy in a way other than professionally. “I guess it's back to talking about
The Nutcracker
.”
“Better,” Melissa retorted. “What I don’t understand is why Debra is teaching us all the parts. Is it because they haven’t decided who'll be doing what?”
“So untrue!” snapped Brandi, preening like a cat with a bird in its mouth.
“What's that supposed to mean?” asked Melissa.
“It means that I know something,” she boasted.
“How?”
“Because Una called my parents.”
“Your parents? Why?” Collette interjected, confused as to why her parents were involved in any discussions with Una Velofsky.
“I don't know why, but I do know I'm dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy!”
“What?” Melissa and Collette exclaimed in unison.
Brandi laughed heartily.
“Yes! Isn't it wonderful?”
“Wonderful? I'd say it’s more like surprising, but do go on,” Melissa muttered.
“What? What’s surprising?” Brandi asked.
“Nothing,” Missy replied, doing her best to cover the snarky implication. “I just meant that it’s surprising that Una spoke to your parents.”
“Oh,” Brandi replied, buying the explanation. Rubbing her hands together, she continued, “Well, my parents said that
The Nutcracker
is going to be
the
test. I mean, I know we've been told these classes are, but the holiday performance is where the
real
selections for the company are going to be made. It's why Debra is teaching us some of the variations for all the roles—to see how you do. If you're not chosen for any of the lead or secondary roles, it's pretty much kaput,” she summarized, drawing her finger across her throat.