Striving for Greatness: A Vladimir Chigvintsev Story

1

"One more time." I said to myself after going through my routine for what felt like 100 times. I have been especially hard on myself lately, but just want everything perfect.

Suddenly in walked my ballroom partner Valerie.

"What's up Vlad?" She asked me, sounding excited. Her happiness is annoying sometimes.

"Sup." I said keeping my eyes on myself in the mirror.

"I thought rehearsal was at 2, it's only 1:30 and you are already drenched in sweat."

"Just practicing my parts, everything has to be perfect." I said slightly agitated.

"How do you practice without me? It's impossible for me to practice if I'm not with you, it's all about the connection."

I looked up at her for the first time since she walked in.

"Look, Valerie.. We are only dancing together because you're a dancer that can keep up with my pace. As long as I am doing my job, we are golden... So I'm going to put in the extra hours, until everything is perfect." I said, slightly raising my voice at her.

She stood back and rolled her eyes, "you are pushing yourself too hard if you ask me, you aren't your dad, you know." She said

"I'm not trying to be." I yelled at her "don't pretend like you know my parents." I looked away from her and continued my steps.

"Whatever." She said putting her bag in the corner and beginning her practice stretches.

I continued going through the routine until our coach, my godfather Maks, came in to work with us to get us ready for the competition that's coming later this month.

We have been on strict diets, workout regiments, and rehearsal schedules all in anticipation of a win here in New York at the Junior National competition. With a win we will be competing in Paris at Worlds early next year, bringing me one step closer to the promise I made to my mom. If I can be the best teenage ballroom dancer in the world, surely I can become something much greater in the years to come.

My mom probably wouldn't be happy that I am not in school. I just work so hard at my dancing that I don't have the time. My brother Alek however, he is the genius of the family and gets all his brains from our mother, he doesn't have a passion for dance, and keeps his head inside his textbooks most days. I have hope that maybe someday a brain such as his will find a cure for cancer.

Too bad there aren't time machines, because the day a cure is found I would give up everything to be able to go back in time and save my mother from passing away during a time where we all needed her the most.

I was brought back to reality by a water bottle hitting me in the chest.

"Yo, Vlad." Maks said "what are you daydreaming about? must be good cause you ignored the last 5 things that I just asked you... So have you been practicing the turns or no?"

"Yeah Maks, I have everything perfect in the routine. Now Valerie.. That's a different story and I honestly don't have the time to be slowing down for her just because she doesn't put in extra hours in the studio."

"I'm standing right here, jerk." She said turning the music on and flowing through the routine like a graceful goddess, I was very impressed and actually believed that I was wrong about her, she actually was proving herself.

Maks looked at me and we both said nothing, even though she deserved some praise. However, Maks wasn't like that, he always believes that there is room for improvement. Even today he knows that he has never been the best dancer in the world. Me on the other hand, I could have given her a high five or something but decided not to. I am like Maks in so many ways.

After rehearsal Valerie couldn't wait to leave and I didn't blame her. Maks and I aren't the funnest people to be around although we enjoy each other's company. We share a common unspoken bond between us, my mother.