The Power of Dance

The Auditions

"Name?" The glum lady who stood at the front entrance of the performing arts center said to me. "Melina. Melina King," I replied. She grabbed a number and pinned it to my shirt. "You're number 143."

I made my way into the lobby, where a bunch of girls and guys were waiting. Some were practicing the dances they were going to show the directors, others were talking amongst themselves. I had already practiced my dance enough to the point where I could etch it out on paper without any mistakes, but with all the looks I was getting from these other girls and guys, I needed something to get my mind off of them.

I found an open space and, taking a deep breath, began my dance, starting off with my spins, then the leaps, and so on. By the time I was halfway through my dance, I noticed one person in particular glancing at me from overhead: Derek Hough, one of the choreographers from Dancing With The Stars, the show I was auditioning for. He was even more good looking in real life.

When he noticed I was staring back at him, he smiled. I smiled back, tucking the loose strand of hair from my ponytail behind my ear. That was something I did if I was embarrassed, or blushing in this case. Somehow, my body resisted running towards him and insisted on continuing the dance. But I stayed still, staring at Derek, while he stared at me. It was as if the whole world had frozen.

"Derek? Snap out of it, buddy!" I suddenly noticed the man standing to the right of Derek, Valentin Chmerkovskiy. He was also a choreographer of Dancing With The Stars. Derek snapped out of our frozen world gaze and whispered something to Valentin. Derek quickly glanced back at me, waved, and walked off with Valentin.

"Looks like you got someone's attention," a girl said, strutting up beside me. "I'm Madison," she said, shaking my hand. "Melina."

"So you're trying out for dancing with the stars, huh?"

"Yep. I'm guessing you are too?"

She nodded. "Who are you hoping for?" She asked, leaning against the rail of the staircase. "Isn't it obvious?" I asked, leaning beside her. "I bet he's got the hots for you," she smirked. "I highly doubt it," I laughed. "Did you see the way he was looking at you? I bet he's never looked at anyone like that except for you."

"Yeah, sure," I said sarcastically. "Numbers 140-160, we'd like you to line up by the Stage A!" A woman yelled into a megaphone. "I'm 150, we can go together."

"Okay," I said, glad to have someone I knew with me. We lined up with the people that were also called and followed the woman onto the stage. "Line up in a single file line," the woman said. When we were in a single file line, the woman strutted off the stage and sat down at a table with 3 other people.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to the official auditions for Dancing With The Stars." Everyone clapped for a moment, then the lady spoke again.

"We will be calling you up separately and you will do your self constructed dances, you must go directly back into the line and stay there unless we call you back up."

They started with the boy at the end of the line, Michael. The dances flew by very quickly, too quickly in fact.

"Melina King?"

I felt my skin go pale. I was about to audition for a nation wide dancing show. I couldn't back out now.

"You'll be fine," Madison, who had just gone whispered, squeezing my hand reassuringly. I took a shaky breath, then stood at center stage, squinting down at the people below me.

"How old are you, Melina."

"I'm 23."

"Okay, whenever you're ready Melina."

I waited until my song- Chandelier by Sia- began.

I began my dance again, spins, leaps, splits, ballet moves, jazz moves, etcetera, until the song finally ended. I looked down at the people sitting down at the table. They all had tears in their eyes.

"Thank you," I said, then walked back to the line. I noticed that most of the other people in line also had tears in their eyes. Did my dance make them cry? Was my technique so horrible that they were ready to bawl?

I looked down at the ground in horror until Madison tapped my shoulder lightly. "You were amazing," she whispered. "Thanks," I whispered, some of the color returning to my face.

After everyone was done doing their dances, the people, who I now recognized as the 3 judges and the casting director, had us sit down in the seats while they went out in the hall to talk.

As soon as I sat down, I was flooded with compliments about my dance. As soon as the judges and the casting director came back in, everyone was quiet. The choreographers also came in and stood on the stage. Somehow, Derek had found where I was sitting and winked at me.

"Alright everyone, before I announce the couples, I just wanted to say that you were all amazing today, and we all wish you the best in your futures, whether it be on Dancing With The Stars or in any given career."

The casting director stood up a little straighter and cleared her throat.

"When I say your number, please report to the choreographer that has their hand raised."

145. 150. 012. 014. 066. The numbers flew by and the chances of getting a choreographer lessened by even more than before. The casting director called off numbers, until there were at max 60 of us left. Derek was the only choreographer left. He couldn't have picked me out of all of these girls. They were all probably a lot better than me.

"And our last guest contestant who will star on Dancing With The Stars is...."

She took a dramatic pause before breaking the anxious silence.

"Number 143."

It took me a second to register what had really just happened. She had called my number. I was going to dance with Derek. My dream was actually coming true.

My feet carried me up to the stage and to Derek's side.

"Congratulations to all of you, and we will see you at the first rehearsal on Monday!"

The judges and the casting director stepped out of the auditorium as the couples celebrated their making it into the show.

"You were really good," he said, speaking to me for the first time. "Who, me? Oh, yeah, thanks." I was getting giddy.

Derek laughed and wrapped his arm around me. I bit my lip to keep from freaking out. "You know what I think we should do?"

"What?" I asked, keeping the squeals down my throat. "I think we should celebrate at my place. Tonight. 8:30. Dirty Dancing movie."

"Okay, but I have no idea where you live."

"Oh yeah, that's right."

He grabbed a pen from the back pocket of his jeans, then wrote something on my hand. "See ya tonight! Remember, 8:30!" He said, jumping off the stage and heading towards the exit doors.

"You bet!" I yelled after him. When he was gone, I leaned against the wall and sighed. I looked at what he had written on my hand: his address and his phone number.

I squealed in delight, then got up to go grab my stuff and head home before I went over to Derek's house.