Page 29 of Pages of Amber
Amber hummed, “It must be a big one then.”
Once everyone seemed to be present and all ears, the Assistant Director smiled from her place on a makeshift pedestal in the middle of the hall.
“Thank you for coming. This won’t take long.” Her gaze swept through the hall. Hair in a tight bun and a sunny smile on her face, she folded her hands over her formal jumpsuit. “As I’m sure a number of you may have already guessed, a performance will be held at the Theatre and it will feature some of the best principal dancers of the New York City Ballet.”
A murmur of excitement and whoops went up. Amber couldn’t contain her squeal of excitement. The NYCB was one of the foremost dance companies in the world. Their contemporary elegance had always intrigued Amber to study their ballets in an effort to incorporate the style into what they were taught at the theatre. Amber squealed again. She would get to see those professionals at work at the theatre. The opportunity to learn from them in the flesh was at her fingertips.
The Assistant Director clapped to regain their attention. “That said, this is the most exciting part yet. To pick the dancers who will get the opportunity of sharing the stage with the NYCB ballet, auditions will be held in the next three weeks. The dancers chosen will not only star in the performance but will also stand the chance of getting solo roles. Based on their excellence, diligence and execution, they will become principal dancers representing the Fleur Elysian Ballet Theatre and School.”
The hall exploded into a frenzy. Everyone was talking at once as the enormity of the upcoming performance sunk in. Amber and Evelyn clasped hands, Lexi’s arm rounding her neck as looks of elation plastered their faces. They squealed in tandem, their words rushed.
“This is amazing.”
“Pinch me! I can’t believe this is happening.”
“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Lexi gasped. “I wonder what the audition dance is. Will it need a partner? Is it a solo dance for everyone?”
As though hearing her question, the Assistant Director yelled the last part of her announcement over the racket. “The audition dance is the Don Quixote ballet. You may choose your scenes to perform, either as a soloist or duet. Those interested in auditioning for the corps will be paired by the board. It will be held in Makarova Hall in two weeks. Anyone who wants to audition must put their names down at the Front Office. Good luck everyone.”
The Don Quixote?
Amber felt a thud in her chest. The very dance Director Meusall had visited her home and asked Amber to personally perform for her. She tightened her hand on the strap of her bag. This must have been why her mom had been forceful. She had expected perfection from Amber because she had known about the coming performance. She had wanted Amber to be picked automatically.
“Oh God.” Evelyn bit her lip. “I’d love to dance a duet but I don’t think I’ll be able to pair with a danseur again. I almost murdered the last guy’s toes. He probably still hates me.”
“You don’t have to be scared of doing a duet. A lot of confidence and hours of practicing was the recipe that helped me keep my partner.”
“I guess you’re right. The only recipe I think of constantly is for double chocolate chip cookies.” Amber laughed at the dreamy sigh that left Evelyn. Lexi did not have the same reaction. She stared at Amber, her dark grey eyes analytical.
“Don Quixote, huh? Isn’t that the production you and the Theatre troupe performed a couple years back?”
Amber tried to ignore how specific her question was.
“Oh, I remember. It was really incredible that you could keep up with an advanced class for that performance,” Evelyn answered. Her lips parted in an excited gasp. “You know the dance so well. That increases your chances to get picked!”
“Is it really fair having it as the audition dance when everyone knows how good you are at it?” Lexi questioned.
Her tone didn’t sit well with Amber. Doubled with the pinch of guilt from having a private audience with the Director herself, she wasn’t feeling too good about the whole thing anymore. An image of her mom flashed in her mind. The fact that she knew the dance wasn’t a reason why she couldn’t compete for a spot with the rest of them. Her technique and positions still needed work. She wasn’t perfect. The theatre also included scenes from the Don Quixote ballet in their curriculum so they learnt the steps.
“You’re overthinking it, Lexi. It’s been two years since I last performed that dance. I’ve definitely gotten rusty enough to make it fair.”
Evelyn nodded. “With all those turns, leaps and kicks, it will be a challenge for everyone learning it in the next few weeks.”
Amber nodded in agreement just as their level masters began to send them off to their classes. Lexi and Evelyn didn’t know about her private audience with the Director. They didn’t know of the heartbreaking argument with her mother or the ensuing hours of practicing that had left her toes bloodied and aching.
She resolved to keep it to herself. Her focus would stay on re-practicing the steps so she could win a spot on that stage. She would do it for her mom. For her dad too. She would make them proud of her and one day, she would own the title of principal dancer just like they wanted.
Amber reached for the barre, resting her weight on the smooth wood. Her hand massaged her neck, the popping sound loud in the empty room. Practice had ended over an hour earlier but with her thoughts weighing heavy, she had decided to stay back and get started on practicing those steps. She was determined to land a main lead role, despite how taxing it would be. Amber forced herself to look on the bright side. With Kitri’s part, she would be able to show off her skill and technique in two solos and a pas de deux.
Despite holding on to that, the multiple missteps and her mom’s voice echoing in her head with every try had her close to giving up. But if she had thrown in the towel the first time she had tried a four-spin pirouette and almost broken her tailbone, she wouldn’t be standing where she was.
Amber picked her phone and scrolled through her playlist, deciding to free-style a bit before returning to the routine. She settled on a song and got into position as the piano notes began to stream from the small speaker she liked to carry along. On a deep breath, she let her eyes fall closed. Her feet took the first step, an unknown choreography drifting through her limbs. At the soft drop, she let herself go, flowing with the music, letting it carry her.
She reached onto her pointe, her arms in the air as she lifted into a pirouette, then a perfect fouetté. She went again, gliding across the floor.
This.
