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Giselle
“Miss Metro!” Alycia jumped into the studio with excitement on her face.
“Yes?” I folded my hands together like a prayer and tilted my chin up. I tried to be professional and poised with the kids but I also understood their different level of understanding than adults. Kids just wanted someone kind and happy to see them.
“My mom said we’re going to do a dance for lots of people,” she was jumping in place, the excitement never waning. I looked up to see her mom walking to her chair behind the window and she smiled at me, clearly pleased I had finally arranged a small production.
“We are,” I replied, happy to see my efforts being rewarded with smiles and excitement.
I had spent a few days out of the studio to call every small theater I could and by Wednesday had almost given up. Luckily, there was a theater in Buckhead, aptly called The Buckhead Theater, that had an opening on the first Thursday in December due to a cancelled show.
That cancelled show was an intimate concert by a world famous country duo. Agreeing to let our little ballet company fill that void for the low cost of what we could afford was harder than it should have been. They knew we couldn’t charge parents more than a minimal fee and they also knew we wouldn’t fill up their 1800 seating capacity. So how did I get them to agree?
I promised a celebrity surprise guest and may have mentioned my mother’s name. I wasn't proud and I would have to beg her to come appear in our show, but it got the job done. Thursday, December 2nd, Brisé’s advanced ballet and tap classes would be performing a small Christmas collection for family and friends.
I had sent an email to all the parents once it was confirmed and based on the smiles, by not only Alycia’s mom, but all the others, they were happy—maybe even impressed. They didn’t know I had let it slip and didn’t have this planned months ago, and I was going to let them. I needed a win.
I let myself focus on the show to the point that I almost forgot about the little—ahem, huge—probability of gangs infiltrating our little part of town and using the studio as home base. That may have been an exaggeration, but to be honest, I knew zero about gang life.
It didn’t matter.
Now that the recital was all set, I had no choice but to push through and keep Brisé open. I just prayed we were no longer a target.
Earlier, before the classes started to arrive, I called the officer’s that came by the week before and asked if the kids were in danger. He eased my worries by telling me they most likely knew the place was unlocked and empty after dark and that was why I had been targeted.
Even “bad guys” didn’t want to mess with kids. So we had that going for us. It was still only when I was alone after dark that I needed to worry and even though I learned to lock the door, a shiver still ran down my spine when I thought about it.
But at least you won’t be alone.
Yeah, I had Ty coming on those late nights, but for how long? I was well aware of the things we needed to work on and Mr. Peyton had called me and told me Ty was already benefiting from our classes.
As the kids finished filing in, I got them in their places with a quick clap and looked around at the little faces. They had all been informed by their parents of the show but now it was my turn to explain the importance of the next few months of classes.
“Class, as you may have….” I stopped talking when I realized the X in the back of the room was empty.
Sam.
That was Sam’s spot and he was not there. He never missed a class and he was never late, so I was immediately worried.
The class noticed where my eyes had stopped and the older kids started giggling, “I wonder if Sam found a boy sport to play?”
“Enough,” I cut their remarks off before they could continue. I taught these kids because it was what I knew how to do and I thrived when I saw talent like Sam’s, but one of the reasons I left the stage was because of girls like the ones laughing in front of me. Albeit for a different reason, but it was still a hard pill to swallow when I realized that mean girls started young and I would still be surrounded by them even away from the big stages.
I wanted Brisé to be better than that. I had to set a better example. The students needed to know bullying would not be tolerated in my studio.
I waited a few more beats before I gathered my thoughts and tried to continue.
“As I was saying, your parents may have told you about the performance we will be doing the first weekend of December at The Buckhead Theater. It is not the Fox theater in terms of size but it is famous for having big acts and a grand stage. We will be the first ballet company to perform on their stage. I hope you realize what that means and the honor you will have to be a part of this show. We will need to work hard and show up to every class. Sometimes, you may even be asked to practice at home and more than likely, we will have extra classes on the weekends as the show gets closer.”
I stopped when I realized a tiny hand was up in the second row. “Yes Madeline?”
“Can we do a Christmas dance?”
I smiled because that was my next thought. “We will do the whole show with a Christmas theme. It will be an exciting start to the holiday season.”
The girls started jumping and giggling, talking amongst themselves. I let them get their excitement out for a moment while I looked at Sam’s missing X one more time. I wanted Sam to dance the lead. I couldn’t wait to tell him and it was killing me he was missing this class.
“Ok, time to start class,” I clapped twice and just like they were taught to do, they silenced and got into en face. The news of the show had everyone ready to start the class and get going, I just hoped that momentum carried us through December.
