One Performance, Many Surprises!

2024 3rd & 4th Grade Prose Winner

     At three o’clock on a warm Friday afternoon, my best friend Hailey Chang and I hop on the subway and rush to get to the ballet theater. We are usually quiet on our way to practice, because our ballet school is very serious. But today, we are loud, bubbly, excited, and nervous. Oh, of course you must want to know why. Today is the opening night of our Spring Performance (and my birthday)! We keep chatting about it. First Hailey says happy birthday. “What do you think it will be like, Ellen?” Hailey asks while I start fidgeting with my hair.
     “Oh, I am sure it will be great,” I answer, taking my hands off my hair. “We are here now, anyway.”
     “Oh, we are there, all right,” Hailey says, sarcastically, rolling her eyes at my hair. We are both right, as in front of us stands a tall, elegant building with a sign: “Showcasing ballet students from Ballet Academy East.” We open the door slowly.
     “YES! We are here!” I yell, celebrating our entrance to the theater.
     “Whoa! Calm down, Ellen!” Hailey instructs.
     “I know. I am just so excited,” I tell her as we walk up the stairs to the dressing room and start doing our hair.
     I count my bobby pins. “1 bobby pin—”
     “Ellen, I forgot my bobby pins!” Hailey yells.
     “Calm down, I have extras,” I say.
     “Class, we are going to take about five more minutes and then start going to the rehearsal room,” Ms. Emily says.
     “Okay,” the class answers as they finish their hair. About seven minutes later, we get into the rehearsal room. We go in and pull out the barres and face the mirror with our heels in first position. The music flows through me as I count, to be on beat. I slowly and softly do my grand plié. When we get to développé I stretch my leg to my head. Wow, that leg can stretch pretty high.
     Finally, we get to center work. I do the same développé that I did at the bar. Hailey’s mouth drops wide open when she sees my leg. Oh, it is not that impressive. Is it? My leg has been able to go 180 degrees forever. Now, I am probably a professional at level 5 ballet. You probably think it is easy, but trust me it is super hard. I do ballet 5 or 6 days a week and I am still not super great at ballet. Ballet Academy East helps me a lot with ballet.
    “Now, people who are in pas de deux will go do makeup and costumes,” Mrs. Fiona announces. Oh, that is me, I must be quick. I hurry to the elevator and go to the dressing room. I put on some lipstick, blush, and re-tie my pointe shoes. I save the best for last: an enormous, beautiful, fluffy ball gown and a golden tiara. Now I should be all ready. I quickly walk down the stairs (running would make me slip, but I can hardly slow down). In the hallway, I see Hailey.
     “Good luck!” she whispers as the show starts. Soon, my dance begins. My soul sings. I do awesome with my dance. Then I take a bow. I am happy, but something worries me: I do not see my family because the lights are too dim. Then I hurry to the dressing room. I have more dances to perform. After all the clapping for the younger dancers, the level 5 dance comes. We move as one body with a few solos that Hailey, myself, and some other dancers perform. We do more dances, changing our costumes after each one. Finally, confetti rains down on stage for the grand finale. I manage to save a few pieces for my family. I go back on stage to take the final bow. I am happy. Now I go to the dressing room and change into the simple dress I arrived at the theater in. I take out my phone and text my parents to wait for me in the hallway. I stop at the theater gift shop and get a few gifts for my family and friends. Then I walk out to the hallway.
     “HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLEN!!!” my friends and family shout. Hailey is there as well. Everybody gives me gifts. Then my family takes me to dinner, gives me flowers, and the fun never stops. This is the BEST day of my whole entire life.