Winnie's Randomness

Short story, memoir

Life on Stage

Everyone backstage could tell that the girl in the pink Cherry blossom costume with gold ties was nervous. She was excited, but fear overpowered the excitement like a woman with to much perfume on.

It was a Saturday night and the dancers of 'Sandwich Dance Academy were putting on their annual performance of 'The Nutcracker'. The girls and some boys, and backstage moms, along with some dads who were in the party scene where arriving for 6 o'clock at Sandwich High School. Excitement could be felt all around the air, smiles full of lipstick where exchanged, and for some A memory for life was set in place. Sabrina Doherty was one to set memories that night. Because she, was playing Clara.

As the night had begun Caitlyn had received a, 'Don't mess up!" from Mikayla. She had become one point a soldier who battled fearsome mIce during a battle of sorts. She listened to Clara tell an interesting story and laughed backstage with other dancers. Eventually it became time for her to put chopsticks in her hair and perform her lead-Chinese.

Upon entering the backstage Caitlyn was hit with a brick load of feelings and emotions. She stepped up to her entrance wing and took in her surroundings. Lilly and Abby were putting rosin on the toes of that pointe shoes. Caitlyn relaxed a bit. Thank the dance gods she had chosen not to do the part on pointe. Tall blue curtains outlined an open stage engulfed by burning lights staring down on the dancers. Sabrina sat at the back happily watching Sarah dance with Elizabeth and Hannah as Arabian. Caitlyn

could taste her lipstick mixed with recently eating twisters- strawberry of course. In front of the stage is a full audience absolutely inaudible aroused by not anyone anytime.

Caitlyn was nervous to no end. The bright lights that were small suns burned her eyes while she prayed to God.

"Dear God," she prayed, " Please help me nail this dance." she could feel her heart thumping in her chest. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Jenn came up and gave her a small hug and whispered, "You'll do great." Caitlyn smiled. She even began to believe Jenn." I will do great. I just have to try." She thought.

After Sarah had nailed the last step in her dance the music faded. Caitlyn could suddenly hear the beat of her heart and her steady breath. "That's my cue." Caitlyn thought as she and all the little Chinese took their spots.

All thoughts of stabbing bobby pins, uses seamed tights, and even the smell of hairspray backstage flitted out of Caitlyn's head. She focused on lifting her smile and she pointed her right toe out in front of her. Adrenaline service through her veins. And then he began. She danced her heart out and completed her first ever landed sweets parked. Cheers could be heard throughout the auditorium. Caitlyn turned and bowed to Sabrina after bowing to the audience. Then Caitlyn and her happy little Chinese people exited the stage. They were satisfied with their performance that night.

Caitlyn smiled as she walked backstage. What was she so nervous about? She knew she could do it in the beginning. But she just had to believe she could. And that night, she did.

As the magical night came to an end, Caitlyn could already missed the show and could not wait until next year's auditions and next year's show. Another year of anxiety, nervousness, fear, and excitement. It would be another year of dance, another year of laughs backstage, another year of friends together, and another year of magic.

Note: I really was this nervous when I was to dance in our nutcracker. I just exaggerated this a little bit. My dance was only like 60 seconds long anyway sooo...

-Caitlyn Davis