Let the Dance Begin by Lynda Waterhouse Page A

sand surfer with the wind billowing through its
sails.
    ‘That’s Mrs Sandskrit,’ Lexie whispered, following her eyes. ‘Doesn’t she look grand! She designs all her own outfits. She will be teaching us dance technique.
I’ve heard there’s no one better.’
    ‘Who is the tiny sand sprite with the large glasses?’ Cassie asked
    ‘That’s Miss Youngsand Snr. She knows every Rule in The Sands of Time off by heart, and that’s her twin sister, Miss Youngsand Jnr. She has spent her entire life
studying the science of sand dunes.’ Lexie nodded towards a slightly larger copy of her sister who was moving from table to table with a large tray of laver bread.
    ‘Here you are! I’m starving,’ Shell said in a loud voice. She sat down opposite Cassie and started to help herself to some soup and bread.
    There was a gasp from many sprites and Madame Rosa’s calm voice rang out across the hall. ‘It is more polite to wait until we are all ready.’
    Shell froze, and slowly put her bowl back on the table. ‘Please forgive me.’
    Madame Rosa nodded. ‘You are tired after your journey. That can be the only explanation for such rudeness.’ She stood up to address the school and clapped her hands, making her
bracelets jangle. ‘Welcome, everyone, to Sandringham Dance School. Your dancing life begins today. It will not be an easy life. You will have to work harder than you have ever done before.
Learning to dance is a pleasure, but it is also painful as each of you strives for perfection. A sand dancer must always be the best she can be in thought, word and deed. We are renowned throughout
the natural world for our dancing, just as the sand farers are famed for their ability to travel over great distances. It is a great honour to be here. I hope each and every one of you is up to the
challenge.’ She scanned the room and it seemed as if her violet eyes met those of each sand sprite. Cassie felt the skin on the back of her neck prickle. Would she be able to follow in her
mother’s dance steps?
    Miss Youngsand Snr spoke next. ‘One of my responsibilities is to care for your health. You will all be given a bottle of special sea salts to bathe your feet in at the end of each day. I
expect you to eat well, go to sleep early and look after yourselves. You cannot dance if you are not healthy. Anyone looking peaky will be given a spoonful of my famous tonic.’ She held up a
large bottle, which appeared to be filled with green slime. Everyone groaned.
    Mrs Sandskrit then told them about the exercises book as she handed them out. ‘Write your name in them and look after them well. There are spaces at the back for all your dance
certificates and grades.’
    Miss Youngsand Jnr peered out at them from behind her large spectacles as she spoke next. ‘Each sand dancer will be given a sandbag to keep their sand slippers and exercises books in. In
my sewing classes you will be able to personalise them.’
    Finally Madame Rosa said, ‘I think that is enough information for one night. Now, you may all begin your supper.’
    The room began to buzz with chatter and the noise of soup being poured into bowls.
    Cassie sighed and put her spoon down after a few mouthfuls. ‘I’m too excited to eat much.’
    ‘And I’m too embarrassed,’ said Shell. ‘What was I thinking of helping myself like that?’
    With one swift move, Lexie swapped her now-empty bowl with Shell’s. ‘I can see that neither of you have ever had to fight for your share of food.’
    ‘Looks like we’re going to have to learn,’ laughed Shell as they watched as Lexie slurp up all the soup.
    As they walked along the corridor on the way back to their kutches they they heard a noise and stopped. Hidden behind one of the sandstone pillars, a tiny sand sprite was
    huddled on the floor crying.
    Instantly Lexie kneeled down on the floor next to the small sand dancer. ‘Are you all right?’
    Cassie joined her. ‘What’s your name?’
    Shell added. ‘And