December Spotlight Series – Christmas Karaoke Party – Part 8

If you’ve read The World That Forgot How to Dance, you know that a huge part of the plot is Ellsie’s fear of public speaking. But I really love that girl and wanted her to be involved, so here’s my solution. Hope you like it!

The Stage

Roll Call: Ellsie and Teera
Song: Sugar Plum Fairy
Scenelette Type: Meta

Ellsie arrived early for their final rehearsal before the party. Every other team was practicing in standard meeting rooms, but she was allowed to use the stage because the wood was easier on her feet. She appreciated this, and decided not to point out that in her story she literally danced everywhere but a proper stage.

She also appreciated the fact that she was allowed to dance instead of sing. When she heard that she’d be participating in a karaoke party, she honestly thought she would throw up. But things had turned out okay in the end. Better than okay, actually, because she got to work with a professional violinist to choreograph the dance.

Their first meeting had taken longer than all the other teams, with the two of them trying to decide on the appropriate piece of music. They were told to perform something from the nutcracker, but which one? Which song would sound best played on a solo violin? Which would be most suited to Ellsie’s unique, hybrid dance style?

They eventually went with the Sugar Plum Fairy, deciding that it sounded the most festive. Since then, they’d been working in close collaboration as they developed their own version of the song. It turned out Teera was as familiar with writing her own music as Ellsie was with choreographing her own dances.

The stage lights snapped on as soon as she took her first step onto the stage, and she instinctively brought up a hand to shield her eyes. It was easy to assume this would feel like home to her, but the notion of performing under an actual spotlight was honestly so unfamiliar. At least it was so bright that she wouldn’t be able to see the audience.

“Wow,” came a small voice from the other side of the stage. “You look amazing.” Teera joined her, looking far more comfortable in the spotlight than Ellsie would ever feel.

“Thanks,” she said, and when her eyes adjusted enough to see the dress the young violinist was wearing, she eagerly returned the complement, “So do you. Is that the sort of thing you’d wear in your own world?”

“Mostly, yeah,” Teera said, smoothing a hand down the pale blue fabric. It was fitted nicely around her waist with a slightly flared shirt. “The glittery bits are new,” she said. “We have them in our world, but they’re really expensive. Also, the top was altered a little. We don’t normally show our shoulders like this.”

“Is that a cultural thing?” Ellsie asked. She enjoyed learning little facts about this fantasy world, which was so different from her own.

“Not really,” she said. “It just doesn’t fit in with the ‘look’ Emilin and I use professionally. We try to play up the fact that we look younger than we are. It makes us seem more talented or something.” She shrugged, and started unpacking her violin from the case. “You’d have to ask my sister. She’s the one who makes all of those business-end decisions. I just play the songs.”

“And write the songs,” Ellsie added, since Teera seemed reluctant to give herself a shred more of credit than she had to. “And upkeep the instruments. And repair the costumes.”

Teera bobbed her head in a ‘yes, whatever, fine’ kind of way. “So, tell me about your outfit,” she begged. “Is that something you wear in the story?”

“This? Not a chance,” Ellsie said, looking down at the leotard and full, sparkly tutu. “Dancing in my world isn’t performative. I dance in whatever I happen to be wearing at the time. But, I figure, why pass up the opportunity to wear a real ballet costume?”

“Well, it looks amazing,” Teera said. “How did the shoes turn out?”

“Pretty good, I think,” Ellsie said, lifting a foot up high so Teera could inspect it. While the dance had a lot of strong ballet elements, it had a lot of other styles incorporated, so she needed to adapt the traditional ballet flats a little.

“So, do you think you’ll ever learn the official…” She flapped her fingers as if physically searching for the word, “…tip-toe dancing?”

“Pointe,” Ellsie supplied. “I don’t know. Maybe one day. But that sort of thing can be dangerous if you don’t have real instruction. I’m self-taught.”

“Right,” Teera said. “Also, it hurts.”

“Hurts a lot,” Ellsie confirmed. She’d been curious and stupid when she was younger, so she did try it a couple times. Bad idea. “But there are certain spells that you can only do if you know pointe, so maybe I’ll try it someday.”

Teera stiffened a little, as she always did when the conversation found its way back to magic. Ellsie had to keep reminding herself that ‘spells’ meant something very different in their two worlds, and Teera’s experiences with magic had been predominantly horrifying.

It had taking a great deal of convincing before Teera felt comfortable with Ellsie inserting a very small illumination spell into the routine. But once Ellsie preformed the spell and Teera has seen the little glowing specks scatter from her feet out over the stage, the girl’s attitude softened a bit.

Teera started tuning, and Ellsie finished stretching, and they took their positions to start the dance. Ellsie tried not to think about the fact that the next time they did this, there would be a crowd of people watching her.

At least she wasn’t singing.

December Giveaway!

At the end of December, I’ll be giving these three bookish ornaments to one lucky person! I made these beauties out of upcycled novels (Left – Pride and Prejudice, Middle and Right – Sherlock Holmes)

To enter, just comment on any of my blog posts for the month of December! And, if you really want to increase your chances, you can also comment on the pinned post on my Facebook Page.

Last day to enter is December 30th. Winner will be announced on December 31st. Good Luck!