Coming Home | Scarlett Johansson's Daughter |

DANCE MOM

NEW YORK 2023 - SCARLETT'S APARTMENT

As a 9 year old, Rose had some activities. She went to dance once a week, some piano lessons another day, and an arts and crafts club whenever she wanted. Scarlett, with her busy schedule, would of course be involved in them, but to a certain point, parents weren't really needed to cooperate with this after school activities, and that was fine, because she trusted these people with her very private kid and they had all been way too kind to her family.

A few weeks ago Scarlett had seen in first hand how real and competitive and harsh dance could get, It had quickly left a very bitter taste in her mouth, one she usually got when the people around her, who she had grown up with, would grow up and start revealing how much their upbringing in the competitive acting industry had messed them up. To be honest, she had almost pulled her thirteen year old from that studio, and never looked back, but her daughter loved dance, and from what Scarlett had seen from picking her up from practice and the videos her daughter's friend's mothers had shared, she was a fantastic dancer. So she had done what she usually did best, protect and demand better for those she loved.

But like any performance industry, dance was insane, and it so happened her teenager was part of the most insane studios in New York. Scarlett had never watched the online phenomenon that was Dance Moms, but she suddenly found herself in what seemed to be an episode of it. Dress rehearsals, and crazy schedules. Scarlett, eager to support her daughter, tried her best to navigate the unfamiliar world of competitive dance.

The atmosphere in Scarlett's apartment was tense, a palpable undercurrent of anxiety running through the air. It was the day of Violet's winter recital, a significant event marking her first performance in the teen category. The pressure was immense, heightened by the reputation of her dance studio, which often attracted influential figures from the dance world to even their smallest recitals. For Violet, this felt like a make-or-break moment for her dance career, and the weight of it all was almost too much to bear.

Scarlett had done her best to be supportive, stepping in to help Violet manage the intense preparations. However, her well-meaning efforts seemed only to worsen the situation. Violet, accustomed to handling everything herself, found the sudden involvement of her mother both overwhelming and frustrating. The transition from her previously independent life to having Scarlett's constant presence and assistance felt like a loss of control, adding to her stress and anxiety.

Violet was currently in her room, frantically repacking her dance bag with everything she needed for the recital for like the hundredth time. Her face was flushed with stress, her hands trembling slightly as she double-checked her list: dance shoes, costumes, makeup, water bottle. Each item felt like a lifeline, crucial to her performance and her sense of control.

Scarlett, hovering nearby, tried to offer help. "Do you have everything you need, honey? Is there anything I can do?"

Violet barely looked up, her voice sharp and frustrated. "I've got it. Just... just let me handle it." Her tone carried the edge of a teenager caught between wanting independence and feeling overwhelmed.

Scarlett flinched at the harshness in Violet's voice, a pang of hurt flashing across her face. "I just want to make sure you're prepared," she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady despite the rising lump in her throat.

Violet's eyes were locked onto her dance bag, her hands trembling slightly as she rearranged her items for the umpteenth time. "I said I've got it," she repeated, her frustration evident as she snapped the bag closed with a bit more force than necessary.

Scarlett hesitated, hurt flickering across her face. She knew how much this recital meant to Violet; it was her first in the teen category, a significant step in her dance journey. The studio had a reputation for inviting influential dance figures to even their smallest events, and Violet was terrified of making a mistake in front of them. Scarlett wanted to be there for her daughter, but it seemed that everything she did was wrong.