let's light up the sky ☆

Chapter 15

Maggie huffed on the couch behind me as I did my warm-up stretches. Up to now, I'd done a good job of keeping pace with the rhythmic counting in my head. I sighed. "Well, you get down here and try some of these, missy!"

Maggie rolled her eyes in my direction and licked her lips. Go figure.

I'd finally had enough down time to practice for the Desert Classic Dancesport Championships next month. My routine was almost finished, minus a few steps that wouldn't stop tripping me up. I also needed to figure out how I wanted to incorporate the ribbon flags that I made with Mom a few weeks ago. 

I couldn't wait to give a solo performance a shot. Up to this point, I'd only ever been comfortable dancing with others. I didn't like the vulnerability that came along with having a solo or even being in front of the group.

It made me wonder how I thought I'd ever get to Juilliard with an attitude like that. I mean, Maria Tallchief and Josephine Baker didn't have any self-esteem issues about their performances, did they?

I couldn't think that far ahead right now. My Juilliard application was still a few months away. I needed the Desert Classic to be my chance to prove to myself that I could be ready to make it.

I started up the video of Brunette's performance of "Future Lover" during last year's Eurovision. I borrowed some of her moves, like the dance break towards the end, but I improvised where it was necessary. I preferred having the live performance on TV instead of the studio version. I felt a little less lonely with someone to back me up.

This would be my first appearance at Desert Classic. I already liked this comp over the others I'd been to with my teams because it gave me so much more freedom to do what I wanted. I didn't only pick "Future Lover" for the fact that it would be my number one song on this year's Spotify Wrapped. When I first heard and watched the way Brunette moved across the stage, I wanted nothing more than to be a star like her.

When I danced, I channeled my best inner matinee star and let the emotions flow through me. I couldn't have picked anything better for my Desert Classic debut.

"Okay Anoush, you got this," I whispered to myself for a small confidence boost.

I just wanna make art, read books, and just find someone who likes me enough to kiss my face.

I laid down on the floor and slowly lifted myself, one hand to prop me up and the other to reach to the sky. Wait, where do I go from here? Shit. I fell back and resigned myself to stare at the roof and remember where my next step was. See, this is why I don't make up my own routines.

"Okay, okay, let's try that again."

I was grateful that last year's official performance uploads didn't have a loud and booming introduction. I gave that one more shot and had an epiphany at the right moment. I brought down the hand in the air and lightly brushed it around my face. I hated dancing to the first verse anyway. I like the whole song, but I wanted to get to the fun second verse so I wouldn't bore the judges to tears.

It's like a daydream, but I got some other better plans.

That was more like it. I finally found the groove I was looking for, and it felt pretty nice. This was where I was hoping to bring my ribbons into play, but I needed a few other opinions before I could say for sure.

I had a much better handle of the slightly more complicated break towards the end. Step, step, stomp, and twirl. I swung my left arm and moved into the next set of motions. I let the bass booms take me to where I needed to be. I almost missed the move to the floor, but I caught it at the last moment before it was too late and the song ran away from me.