Hold me in fifth

Élise Montclair, a 18-year- old ballerina who earns a place at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. She is technically brilliant but struggles with expression; too controlled, too "perfect."

At the academy, she is placed under the instruction of Irina Volkova, a world-famous professor as feared as respected. Known for her uncompromising standards, Irina does not tolerate mediocrity.
Her approval is rare, her criticism exacting, and the few students she chooses to mentor are pushed with relentless intensity.

Irina has always existed within the expectations placed upon her, at least, from the outside.
Her personal life and her.. preferences remain entirely private and out of sight, hidden beneath discipline, reputation and absolute control.

Irina Volkova's attention settles on Élise and beneath the cold precision of her gaze and criticism, Élise begins to sense something more deliberate, almost like care. Before she can make sense of it, she finds herself craving her attention, her approval... and unraveling in its absence.

(wlw, tw: sensitive topics like eating disorders, homophobia, age gap, etc.)