Relevé to the Top

Chapter 12. Brooke's Turning Point

"Let's have a big round of applause. I think we made applesauce don't you think?" Abby asks the team, raising her hands to clap.

Lexie claps with the rest of the team. She was glad they won. If they didn't, she was pretty sure Abby wouldn't be smiling as big as she is now.

"Now the group won. They won the overall. But you know what? That was one competition. For this week, we are going to Starbound in New Jersey. When we walk in, you need to be those national champions," Abby places her hand on the last headshot. "Alright. On the bottom... Nia. Simply because of the mistake in the choreography and that dance is easy. It's simple. Next, we have Kendall. You need to learn to read music, and you need to learn to hear music."

Abby looks over at Jill. "I'm gonna keep her on probation. Until I hand her that jacket, she's still proving herself," she turns back to the pyramid. "Paige. I've seen you do the press better. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt; I thought you did an excellent job. Next, Mackenzie, this week, you are not in the group. You are going to do a solo. All right? Good girl. Now we have Lexie. I thought your faces were great in the group."

"Thank you," Lexie smiles.

"Next, I have Maddie. I want you to stop resting on your laurels; I want you to keep improving for the next twenty years. Not for one competition. Do you understand?"

Maddie nods. "Mm-hmm."

"So you impress them. I want you to impress me. Okay, next... I have Chloe. Chloe, you didn't do a solo last week, and you didn't have a duet. You were great in the group. People recognize you from the video, but I want them to recognize you for your dancing. Understood?"

"And on top of the pyramid this week..." Abby reaches for the headshot on top. "Brooke. You went out there; you proved yourself. I mean, you went from worst to best in one week. You're the oldest person in this group, you need to be the role, and that needs to continue."

Abby points at Mackenzie's headshot. "Mackenzie, you're doing a routine called 'My Parade.' And it's all about you, kiddo. You're gonna march out from that corner like you are the leader of the big parade. Maddie, this week you're going to be doing a jazz routine to 'Lights, Camera, Action.' Chloe, you're going to be doing a lyrical routine to 'Don't Catch Me.' And my last solo goes to... Lexie. You will be doing a lyrical routine to 'Slippin'.'"

A huge grin split her face. "Yay!"

Maddie chuckles. "Lexie and Chloe are so happy to be doing lyrically."

Lexie gently shoves her on the shoulder. "Don't be jealous."

"Now, the group dance, everybody's in it except for Mackenzie, it's entitled 'Born to Dance,'" Abby continues. "And it's about a child being born. There's a little mystery to it. Brooke, you're going to be featured in this number; you should be the glue that's holding it together.

"You need to be the most advanced in the group, not looking around to see what these three are doing." Abby gestures to Lexie, Maddie, and Chloe. "Understood?" Brooke nods. "Brooke, don't let me down. Mom's, please go. Girls, stretch out. Let's go."

After warm-up, begins teaching the routine.

"That's what I want to see," Abby tells the girls. "Smile. Brooke, back up!"

She stands to choreograph a part for Brooke. "Go on to your stomach. One, two..."

After Brooke, Abby choreographs the group parts. "Five, six, seven, eight," she stretches her arm forward, the girls mimicking her. "Now. You need to plié, Chloe." Abby walks over to Maddie. "You do saute and saute and run, run, temps levé, grand-jete... shoo... ba-ah. Lexie, you're gonna do the same thing on the other side."