Chapter 63

"Why can't I go into the studio today?" Maddie pouted that Tuesday. Aunt Melissa sighed, and I just continued to help Kenzie with her bag.

"You're on probation, Maddie. You can dance here to your heart's content if you like."

"It's not fair."

"At least both of you got punished," I pointed out. "This is a lesson, Mads, and at least it's only for a week this time."

"I'm not even in the wrong, Kendall started it by being mean to me."

"Still, you let the issues show onstage, and that's a big deal. Especially in this industry."

"Okay, I guess it's fine," Maddie grumbled. "I'll just dance here."

"I thought that Maddie had learned her lesson already," my aunt worried in the car on the way to the studio, after we'd dropped Kenzie off at school. "She missed a third of the season last year, Kendall may have started it but Maddie's on her second strike."

"I think that Maddie has trouble controlling her emotions and reactions," I said. "It's getting better with therapy, but there's still a lot of progress to be made."

Pyramid was odd without Kendall and Maddie. Abby faced us, looking pleased enough. "We had a clean sweep last week. It should have been wonderful, but the two dancers that aren't here ruined it. Let this be a lesson to all of you; act like a professional onstage, unless there's an actual emergency. We're headed to Xpression Dance in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I'm bringing in a special choreographer for the group, which Joanne is not in. Kendall and Maddie are at the bottom of the pyramid, they're not here this week. Chloé, you didn't dance, there's nothing to judge you on. I hope that you're well-rested this week. Brooke, I was happy with your solo, but you forgot the end of the dance onstage. I would expect Mackenzie to remember the routine, let alone the oldest of the group."

Brooke nodded at the fair critique. "It won't happen again, I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, be better. Nicaya, you were the secondary lead in the group along with Ursula, and though your performance quality was high, you were a beat behind."

Nicaya nodded, looking disappointed.

"Ursula, you were also a secondary lead in the group, I loved your performance. You just didn't have a solo so I can't put you higher. Nia, you carried that group routine, strong work. Mackenzie, you won the Mini division, and blended in well in the group. Paige, you won the Pre-Teen division, you're on a winning streak. But on the top of the pyramid, with another perfect score, is Joanne."

Everyone clapped for me.

"You choreographed that solo yourself and barely worked with me on it. I thought that you worked well with the three leads in the group. You're off to the Oscars next week, so I'm giving you a lot to do this week, yes?"

I nodded. "Thank you."

"Chloé and Nicaya, you'll be up against each other in the Junior category. Nia, you're our Teen competitor this week. Joanne, you have a solo as well as a ballet duet with Ursula. I want you to choreograph the three other solos. Brooke and Paige, I'm giving you a duet, and you'll be in the division below Joanne and Ursula. The choreographer won't be here for another hour, so I want to see Joanne and Ursula.

This was clearly Nyssa's choreography; we also already knew the duet, having started learning it before the YAGP semi-final. This was necessary for a pointe duet, and we were still only just finished with it once the choreographer came in- Rachelle Rak, a Broadway director and choreographer. For once, I really wanted to be in the group dance, or at least see how she worked. To my surprise, she approached me right away.

"Hello Ms. Rak, it's lovely to meet you," I said, shaking her had.

"You're so polite. It's very nice to meet you, Joanne," Ms. Rak smiled. "I've been wanting to meet the girl that gets Choreographer's Awards at YAGP competitions."

I blushed. "Well, thank you. I was hoping that I'd be able to at least watch you work."

"What do you mean? Are you injured?" Rachelle frowned.

"Since there's three teenagers in our group, one of us usually sits out of the group, and it's my turn this week," I explained.

"How old are you?"

"I'm thirteen."

"Abby, check the age to see if they can stay in the Junior division with Joanne in the group. I made a dance for all eleven of these dancers, and two already aren't here."

Abby didn't look happy but nodded, and just like that I was in the group dance. While the theme was inappropriate, about gold diggers, I loved watching how Rachelle worked and Abby smarted in the corner. Rachelle was clear, demonstrated the moves herself, and gave constructive feedback. Everyone was enjoying themselves, which was the point where Abby decided to speak up.

"With Joanne in the group, we would barely make it into the Juniors. I'm not comfortable with that." I held back an eye roll, and Rachelle didn't bother to try. "Why not? The judges aren't going to be looking at the average age of the group. The group dance is for everyone."

Luckily, group rehearsal ended, but the debate wasn't over. I called in Nia to learn her solo in Studio F.

"I'm excited to work with you again! Since you did well with hard Contemporary last week, I want to give you soft Lyrical this week. The dance is called 'The Way I Love You' and you're dancing for someone you love- it could be a partner, but also a parent or sibling. It's pretty and balletic."

Nia was a quick learner but was only halfway done with her solo by the time we finished rehearsal; I was pushing everyone to their limit this week.

"Chloé, you've just come off a ballet competition, so I'm giving you a flashy Jazz solo. You usually win judges over with your gentle charm, but this is not gentle, it's bold. The piece is called 'Watch Me Shine' and while it has a lot of technique in it, the most important thing is to perform."

Chloé picked up the moves well enough, but she just wasn't hitting the moves hard enough and her face was too gentle. I told her to watch some of Rachelle's dancing and sent her off to class.

Nicaya was third, coming in with a smile. "What's my dance this week?"

"It's an Open solo that will highlight your technique and doesn't have a story, called 'Misty Day.' It should have Lyrical movement."

Nicaya was also struggling a bit, unused to the style, but she was a hard worker and never complained about dances being difficult, so I wasn't worried about her getting it. Abby was able to teach me my solo right before I left for the night.

"This dance is entitled 'The Liar.' It's an Open piece inspired by the tale of Pinocchio, you know that one? Good. In this story, you're a doll that's come alive and you have some devious plans. It's sharp and it should be dark and sassy. I can only teach you half of it now but we'll finish it in your private tomorrow."

I didn't know why I always got amazing solos, but I'd take it and run. The dance was electric, sharp and odd, and required a lot of acting. Abby wasn't kidding when she said that she was pushing me this week.

I finished learning the solo the next day, and was able to finish Nia's dance before group rehearsal rolled around again. Mrs. Miller had been a bit ill so Abby was out that afternoon, and Rachelle reveled in her not interfering. Paige was the lead in the dance because she was probably the best Musical Theater dancer of the group. Ursula and I's duet was tiring but I loved the feeling of being en pointe, so I really didn't mind it.

The next day, Abby had all the soloists show each other their dances, as well as the two duets. Brooke and Paige had a fun Jazz number with some tricks, and it showed off their strengths.

"I really like it," I said. "I do think that you're not in sync when you're doing the tumbling pass, and that's something that the judges will notice."

Their other feedback was that Brooke needed to be more expressive and that Paige was getting sloppy towards the end of the dance. Ursula and I performed next and got good feedback all around.

"The only thing is that Ursula doesn't look as good as Joanne on the turns," Chloé said apologetically. "I think that Ursula's doing great, it's just that Joanne is that amazing at turns."

"I agree," Abby said. "You two have to find a way to sync the turns. They stand out because the rest of the dance is so good. That's the only thing I have, onto the solos, Joanne definitely goes last."

Nicaya looked smooth and confident, but had a few bobbles and needed to sell the dance better. Nia was too intense and needed to have smoother transitions, while Chloé simply needed to be more confident while performing.

I performed my solo, trying to do it as well as possible, and was slightly out of breath when I finished.

"Wow, that's amazing," Nicaya said. "I do think that you're rushing the middle section."

"Your faces are a bit much in that section too, it's not dark Contemporary," Ursula advised me. I nodded.

The group dance was before the solos and duets, so of course Abby made a scene first thing in the dressing room. "I don't see why Joanne's in the group."

"Haven't you spent the whole season saying that the group only wins with Joanne in it?" Holly wondered. "I'm not saying that's true, but if Joanne's been doing the dance all week, it would just be disruptive to pull her now."

"This is my dance," Rachelle said strictly. "Joanne is doing it. She's going to do great, as will everyone else."

Rachelle also noticed that I was wearing skin-colored mesh along with the skimpy costume, and frowned. "You're thirteen, you can show off a bit."

I didn't back down. "I'm a child, as is everyone else. Besides, I'm covered in scars and Catholic."

"You're Catholic?" Rachelle asked, surprised.

"Yeah, I just don't talk about it much on the show."

Dressing room drama aside, the group dance went well, and I enjoyed myself. Paige looked great as the featured dancer. The duets had to run off to get ready, with Ursula and I going first. We were dressed in white leotards and tutus, our hair up in buns, with minimal makeup. There was no story to this dance; it was showing off our ballet prowess.

"Please welcome entry number eighty, a Senior ballet duet, 'The Swans.'"

Ursula and I matched our moves, including the turns, and left the stage pleased with ourselves. The judges had seemed impressed as well, which didn't always happen with ballet.

Paige and Brooke followed us up and did great with their fun duet, Brooke matching Paige's energy levels. This was a Teen dance so they needed to do well in order to win with sassy Jazz.

I was also the first ALDC soloist to go, forty-five minutes later. I wore a purple sparking leotard with shorts, and had my hair halfway down as it was part of the choreography. I had a great time onstage and hoped that the judges saw it too.

I was blown away by Nicaya's solo, which she absolutely nailed. It was simply beautiful, she was a versatile dancer even without being strong in Acro. Chloé lived up to the choreography after her, performing with confidence and sass. It was up to the judges now.

Nia needed a pep talk before her dance, but killed it, telling a beautiful story. Her lines were the best that I'd seen them, she was improving quite a bit with her ballet. Awards followed this up and we waited eagerly.

"Now for our champion Teen Duo/Trio... by just a point, the winning number today is from Brooke and Paige from the ALDC."

"Your champion Senior Duo/Trio had the overall high score of the day with a perfect 300 points. The judges loved this dance and are giving Joanne and Ursula from the ALDC the award for Elegance."

We stood and accepted the trophy happily. "You two were just beautiful. Congratulations," the announcer said to us. "Do you compete at YAGP?"

"Yes, wer're both going as individuals to the Final and Joanne also has a pas de deux in the Final," Ursula replied.

"That's amazing! Great work today."

Junior solos came along, and Chloé and Nicaya wished each other luck. "Second place today is winning the judges' award for Energy. Please congratulate Chloé from the ALDC. First place today in Junior solos is going to Nicaya from the ALDC."

Nicaya couldn't believe it, with her mother cheering her on from the audience, and Chloé congratulated her warmly.

"First place in Teen solos today is going to Nia from the ALDC."

"Your first place Senior soloist had the high score of all soloists, with 296.9 points, and is receiving the judges' award for Performance. That's Joanne from the ALDC."

"Your first place Junior group today is from the ALDC, 'Golddigga!'"

It was a clean sweep, and there was no more grumbling from Abby about me being in the group routine.