The Gift of Dancing (Book 5 of the Ava and Mia Series)

Chapter 10

Next we have a dance with U10s but it's with the U9s and U8s too. We all are wearing an elf dress/costume thing and it's really cute.

The dance is a bit like a parade of champions: group section then individual steps. This is a soft shoe one too so I don't have to change my shoes.

We all help eachother pinning on our hats so they won't fall. By the time we finish, Arthur is walking onstage for his set which is before our dance.

There's 15 of us so it's one of the biggest numbers! It's super high energy too! I lead the line on and the moment that the song starts I'm filled with energy once again! There's a photographer here doing action shots and another one video tapping. Everyone's jumps are soaring in the air, up on the tip of our toes, kicks and birdies are up to our noses and we're all having so much fun. We feed off of each others energy. The audience seemed to really like it too! I did my 2nd step this time for the step down the line.

Now it's time for the treble reel that all of this years oireachtas winners are doing. We all have to wear gold dresses (the guys wear gold ties) so I have this full sequined dress with tanktop sleeves and a bow in the back. I pull on these gold bloomers because we have clicks... I put on my hardshoes and electrical tape.

I grab my sash out of my bag and I'm flooded with memories of that day. I put it on and I have déjà vu... I pin it up by my waist with a gold flower so it doesn't fall when we dance. Sadie had the same flower.

Mia takes a photo of us for mom and then we all go with the other champs. We all take a big group picture too. We all walk onstage to a bunch of applause.

The song comes on and we start the dance. I think I don't dance for like 5 seconds out of the 3 minute dance! It's so intense! I'm looking forward to seeing the video of this one! The crowd goes crazy when we finish. This must be what it's like to be in a show!

Now all I have left is my set and it's the last dance! I take off my sash carefully and then change into the dress I chose to wear for my set. It's a blue dress that has a cherry blossom print over it and a tulle skirt. It's so quirky I love it! Mom found a matching blue bow so I pin it in.

I re-tie my shoes just to make sure they won't get undone. Mira is the set before me and she's in line. She has our phone and we take a selfie! The song and dance finishes and she walks out. I'm kinda nervous to go after her but I can't have nerves now! I hear the change in the music to the set part. I do a couple butt kicks and high kicks to stay stretchy. Applause and then Mira comes off and I head out.

This is it.
My set.
My showpiece.
My chance to show what I can really do.

The music comes on and then I start. I'm about to finish the step and start the set when the music stops. I was so into the dance I kept dancing and by the time I realized there wasn't any music it was too late. I do the rest of the set acapella. When I finish I'm met with basically a standing ovation! Woah! I bow then rush off stage to take off my hardshoes and socks.

I grab this pair of tan little heels and put on my oireachtas sash. Anybody with a majors sash is supposed to wear it. Mia has hers and so does Baylee. But she's wearing her nationals sash. It was the overseas majors then Oireachtas, Nationals then Worlds. Next year I'll have a nationals sash. You can bet on that!

First they call out the beginners, then novices, then Prizewinners (who didn't do solos at Oireachtas). Now they start with the oireachtas dancers. Everyone recalled so they start with the youngest age group

"And now our oireachtas placers!" We hear from the other room.

"Isabel Easom, 84th place in the Girls Under 8 Championship!" And Isabel walks out.
"Marcelyn Reynolds, 76th place in the Girls Under 8 Championship! Cynthia Boehler, 70th place in the girls under 8 Championship! Cécile Gomez, 61st place in the Girls under 8 Championship! Lydie Reese, 42nd in the Girls Under 8 Championship! ViVi Dimitov, 37th in Girls Under 8 Championship! Let's hear it for these girls!" And the room explodes with applause.

"Now for our top 10 placers in this competition! Gabriela McRae, 4th place in Girls Under 8 Championship! Mary Ellison, 3rd place in girls under 8 championship! Carlyn Hogarth, 2nd in Girls Under 8 Championship! Sadie Peterson, the champion in the Girls Under 8 Championship! Let's hear it for our under 8 girls!"
We all cheer like everyone else outside and now it's our age groups turn!

"Now up are our U9 Oireachtas Placers!" And I hear everyone cheering.

"Alayna Reese, 19th place in the girls under 9 championship! Kristeen Mazza, 14th place in the Girls Under 9 Championship! Ruby Payton, 11th place in the Girls Under 9 Championship! Mia Peterson, 5th in the Girls Under 9 Championship! Baylee Crewe, 2nd in the Girls Under 9 Championship! Ava Peterson, The Champion in the Girls Under 9 Championship!" I walk onstage and Miss Sandra hands me some flowers and then I go into the line next to Baylee. We all bow and then join the group of beginners, novices, Prizewinners and U8s.

They do the rest of the age groups then worlds placers and then it's done! We all take yet another group picture and then we're aloud to go back to our families. We all go over to mom and dad and they're sitting with Baylee's parents and siblings and Ruby's are at the table next to them.

"Girls you all did great!" Mom says reaching to hug us.
"It was okay... It could have used a bit less glitter and makeup..." Dad says. We all laugh. Such a typical dad thing to say. As usual mom needs to take one billion pictures... So 30 minutes later we can finally go get our stuff from "backstage" and head home. We give back the costumes but the dresses are ours.

We all walk out to the car and start driving home. It's 9:30 when we get home! I'm so tired! Me and Mia are so tired we don't even fight about counter space we just wash off the make up and head to our rooms. Tonight was awesome! I'm so super excited for Scotland now!