Talent

Ch. 13

(Chapter thirteen: Point Your Toes)

"Spin, one-two-three. Reach, one-two. Jump, one-two-three. Plié, one-two." Jay called, motioning what I needed to do. We were in the dance studio, and Jay was teaching me a simple ballet routine. It didn't feel very simple, though.

I was dripping with sweat, and was totally embarrassed as I moved across the wooden floor. My spins were wobbly, my kicks unprofessional, my very dancing the opposite of graceful, and my ability to keep time was appalling. I could keep my voice with a beat, why not my feet?! It was beyond frustrating, and I was ready to give up by the time I finished the routine.

"If we could get you to keep time better, the rest would fall into place." Jay analyzed, tossing me a bottle of water. I drank it in big gulps.

"I can sing in time, just not dance. I told you I couldn't do it." I said quickly, between chugging the water and breathing heavily.

"That's it, though! If you sing along while dancing you'll be able to stay with the beat!" Jay exclaimed, sounding like he'd just struck gold in a mine that hadn't been operational in years.

"I'll bet it won't work, but I'm willing to try it." I responded bitterly, wiping sweat off my forehead.

We went through Jay's iPod looking for a song that I knew all the words to, and that I could dance to. We picked 'You Know I'm No Good' by Amy Winehouse, and began forming a simple routine to it. We kept practicing and repeating and eventually I was keeping time. Sure my moves were still sloppy, but I finally had the beat! When I completed the routine and we were about to head out, Jay stopped me.

"You're doing great, Hallie. It's not perfect, and it never will be. No one is. Not Nate, not me, not Andie. But you're getting better and better every time we come down here, and you made serious progress today! Really, today was awesome. Just remember, point your toes."