Dancing with Artem Chigvintsev: Part 1

1

I remember the day I met Artem like it was just yesterday. I was a delicate 14 year old with aspirations of becoming a household name in dancing and he was a punky 16 year old who used his charm to sway over anyone who watched him dance. He also had came to the states straight from Russia only to find himself partnered with me: 'The American Girl.'

"Snap out of it." Artem said "we have one week to perfect this dance before we go out in front of all of America."

"I was daydreaming about you, actually" I said laughing. He thought I was crazy by the look he gave me.

"Well don't do that." He said "this is serious time. We both want this a lot but what sets us apart from the rest of the pro dancers here is that we know each other more than we know our own families."

"That is true." I said "ever since I was 14 I have never felt comfortable dancing with anyone else."

"I feel the same way, Emma... Can you believe that was 10 years ago that we met?"

We were sitting in front of the mirror in our practice room drinking water and thinking about our choreography. 

"Remember at junior nationals." I asked him "when we did that waltz, this feels the exact same."

"Of course I remember. That was the night that you stepped on my toe and broke it."

"Artem." I laughed and hit him. "Let's go."

We stood up and continued working on the steps to our Viennese Waltz. It didn't  take too long, it was a dance we always loved dancing together. I have the gracefulness for it and he has the strong manliness that's required.

We continued working for most of the day and then we decided it was time to go get some rest and come back tomorrow.

"You want to head over to my place?" He asked me, "I am just gonna cook something fresh and quick but after we eat, we can catch up some more. I have really missed you."

He put his arm around my shoulders.

Before the producers of this new professional dance show reached out for us to join, we had become distant. Artem had been touring throughout Europe while I have been back home in New York City working with the Chmerkovskiy's at their dance studio as a teacher and competing in solo competitions.

Since we are in Los Angeles for the time being, Artem invited me to stay with him in his home. He always preferred LA over any place else here in the states.

"Sounds good to me." I put my arm around his waist. We walked out of the studio feeling like we have never been separated at all. Nothing has changed. Artem Chigvintsev is still my best friend.