appreciate any space you’ve got available. I need to get back at it, maybe lose a few pounds and drop down to a hundred.”
“You don’t look like you need to lose any weight, Marta.”
“I do. I feel bloated and sluggish. My old garage space is available when mom takes the car out, but I need to get back to a real barre with larger mirrors.”
“No need to pay me anything. In fact, I’d like to offer you a job.”
“Really? But I don’t have mobility or strength for complex movements.”
“That won’t be a problem. I’m starting a Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning exercise class for women in mid-August to bring in more money and because women have requested classes since they have no other place to exercise. I’d thought I’d include barre exercises, stretching, and endurance movements you could handle in your sleep. And, since regular dance classes don’t begin until early afternoon, you’d have the studio to yourself before and after the classes.”
“Wow. That would be fantastic, Miss Holland.” Marta felt a surge of energy just thinking about dancing. “The extra time and a larger space than my garage may speed up my recovery.”
“Four other things, Marta. First. You need to stop calling me Miss Holland. Since you’re going to be working with me, please call me Lindsay. Second, I’d like you to speak to the advanced class. Several families are looking ahead to their daughters beginning auditions. Your information will help them understand what they’re up against.”
Marta decided both of those requests were doable. “What else?”
“Third, feel free to say no, but would you consider leading a kinders class? The age range will be three to five. I want it to be playful games and movements with a focus on musicality and free expression. Any interest?”
“I’d love it. I worked with slightly older girls in Billings, so I can adapt what Lynne and I did and then add movement as they progress.”
“Great. Number four is the most important way you can help me. I’d like you to work with Rosalia Marcus. She’s arrived last September, and she’ll be ready to audition next spring. Her drive reminds me of you; your help and knowledge about what she should expect at auditions would benefit her tryouts.”
Marta flashed back to her string of auditions and letters of rejection. How does anyone prepare for that? For years you’re the darling, the star of a dance studio. Suddenly you’re one of twenty people in one of a dozen auditions, vying for one of two positions. No one cares where you came from as long as you stay free of injury and perform as needed. “Let me think about it for a bit. My ankle needs to support me. If it does, I’d love to work with her.”
“Good,” Lindsay said. “I just need to get her mother, Zandora, to take a giant step back and let Rosalia grow and develop in her own time and in her own way. Her mom’s my first true stage mother. I shudder when I see her coming my way. She makes more demands than anyone I’ve ever known, so if that is a deal breaker, I’ll understand.”
Zandora sounded like a challenge. Couldn’t be any worse than dealing with Madame Cosper, could she? “I’ll consider it. Sharing what I now know about auditions might help Rosalia and any others as they take that leap. When do you need my answer?”
“Soon as possible. We’ll be down to one studio so we’ll need to workout scheduling.”
h
On the walk home, Marta moved with a bounce in her step as she organized her windfall of jobs. So far they fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. She’d need diet pills to keep up her energy for the long days. No sweat. She seldom took more than one or two a day lately, so an occasional four or five a day wouldn’t be a problem.
As she neared home she saw Mr. Dunbar rocking in his porch swing. He waved, so she stopped. “Hi, Mr. Dunbar. How are you today?”
“Can’t complain. The sun feels good on my old bones. Haven’t seen
“You don’t look like you need to lose any weight, Marta.”
“I do. I feel bloated and sluggish. My old garage space is available when mom takes the car out, but I need to get back to a real barre with larger mirrors.”
“No need to pay me anything. In fact, I’d like to offer you a job.”
“Really? But I don’t have mobility or strength for complex movements.”
“That won’t be a problem. I’m starting a Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning exercise class for women in mid-August to bring in more money and because women have requested classes since they have no other place to exercise. I’d thought I’d include barre exercises, stretching, and endurance movements you could handle in your sleep. And, since regular dance classes don’t begin until early afternoon, you’d have the studio to yourself before and after the classes.”
“Wow. That would be fantastic, Miss Holland.” Marta felt a surge of energy just thinking about dancing. “The extra time and a larger space than my garage may speed up my recovery.”
“Four other things, Marta. First. You need to stop calling me Miss Holland. Since you’re going to be working with me, please call me Lindsay. Second, I’d like you to speak to the advanced class. Several families are looking ahead to their daughters beginning auditions. Your information will help them understand what they’re up against.”
Marta decided both of those requests were doable. “What else?”
“Third, feel free to say no, but would you consider leading a kinders class? The age range will be three to five. I want it to be playful games and movements with a focus on musicality and free expression. Any interest?”
“I’d love it. I worked with slightly older girls in Billings, so I can adapt what Lynne and I did and then add movement as they progress.”
“Great. Number four is the most important way you can help me. I’d like you to work with Rosalia Marcus. She’s arrived last September, and she’ll be ready to audition next spring. Her drive reminds me of you; your help and knowledge about what she should expect at auditions would benefit her tryouts.”
Marta flashed back to her string of auditions and letters of rejection. How does anyone prepare for that? For years you’re the darling, the star of a dance studio. Suddenly you’re one of twenty people in one of a dozen auditions, vying for one of two positions. No one cares where you came from as long as you stay free of injury and perform as needed. “Let me think about it for a bit. My ankle needs to support me. If it does, I’d love to work with her.”
“Good,” Lindsay said. “I just need to get her mother, Zandora, to take a giant step back and let Rosalia grow and develop in her own time and in her own way. Her mom’s my first true stage mother. I shudder when I see her coming my way. She makes more demands than anyone I’ve ever known, so if that is a deal breaker, I’ll understand.”
Zandora sounded like a challenge. Couldn’t be any worse than dealing with Madame Cosper, could she? “I’ll consider it. Sharing what I now know about auditions might help Rosalia and any others as they take that leap. When do you need my answer?”
“Soon as possible. We’ll be down to one studio so we’ll need to workout scheduling.”
h
On the walk home, Marta moved with a bounce in her step as she organized her windfall of jobs. So far they fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. She’d need diet pills to keep up her energy for the long days. No sweat. She seldom took more than one or two a day lately, so an occasional four or five a day wouldn’t be a problem.
As she neared home she saw Mr. Dunbar rocking in his porch swing. He waved, so she stopped. “Hi, Mr. Dunbar. How are you today?”
“Can’t complain. The sun feels good on my old bones. Haven’t seen
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