Chapter 1

Sharvona placed her hand on the barre; she went through her routine exercises gracefully concentrating on her posture and precision.

“Hold your arms with a graceful curve for port de bras” called her teacher.

“Come on, we have gone through this so many times, the toe must be pointed for the tendu. I want you to go through the battement de tendu again and let me see that toe point”.

Sharvona took a deep breath and raised her leg in front of her; gracefully she extended it above her head. Concentrating on her pointed toe she performed the whole exercise sinking into a deep curtsy at the end. She looked up to a smattering of applause.

“Well done Sharvona, you can do it when you really try. Now let’s take a look at your floor exercises, I believe you still need to improve your pirouettes on the extended leg and then if there is any time I will check your abesqueres and attitudes”.

Sharvona moved to the centre of the room and waited in first position with her arms in avant.  The music started up and she rose up on tiptoe. Her movements were graceful and fluid and she seemed to float on the air as she pirouetted around the room. She carefully extended her right leg and flicked her chin as she came around before stretching her leg out behind her and her arms above her head. She launched herself into the air keeping her legs outstretched. She landed in an attitude with her left leg curved behind her back.

“Excellent, Sharvona you have really mastered this now. I am going to tell you a piece of really good news. The Royal Opera house is holding a gala performance and would like you to do a solo. I believe this would inspire you and make you work even harder than you are now”.

Sharvona began to jump up and down in her excitement. “Could I really do it, could I?”

“Yes you certainly could, for someone who has only learned quite recently you have made remarkable progress. I am fully confident that you are able to do this”, smiled Madame Tarknova.

Sharvona walked to the changing room her mind in a whirl. She had always wanted to dance in public and now she had a golden opportunity. She was only worried about one thing:  what dance was she going to do? She had only learned very recently but she was determined to make a success of it.

The wind was blowing leaves across the pavement as Sharvona walked down towards the bus stop. She could hardly wait to see her mothers’ face when she told her the good news.

“I wondered what I will be wearing, I really hope that it is a sparkling tutu, I would love to wear one of those. Maybe even a tiara with little feathers like they wear in Swan Lake”, mused Sharvona.

 “Mum, are you in?” she called racing up the stairs to their apartment. A slim woman poked her head around the door frame; her face was pale with circles underneath her eyes. She had a pale peach house dress on and looked tired.

“Must you really shout I have a headache Sharvona”, she chided gently.  Sharvona stepped into the flat and hung up her coat. She dumped her ballet bag on the floor and poured herself some orange juice. She sat at the kitchen table opposite her mum.

“So, how was the practise today?”

“Good”, replied Sharvona, she hesitated and then said “My teacher wants me to perform at the Royal Opera house. They are having a gala evening and I’ll be doing a solo”.

“Really! I’m so proud of you, you only started recently. We’ll have your name in the papers before too long”.

“Well I don’t know about the papers, I wasn’t told if the press was going to be there”

Her mum got up from the table and walked towards the window. She fiddled with the leaves of her plant and did not speak for a moment. Eventually Sharvona went over to join her.

“Mum? You’re pleased aren’t you?”

“Of course I am … its’ just that…?”

“Its’ just what?” probed Sharvona.

She sighed and then hugged Sharvona.

“I don’t want to worry you. You just go on that stage and show them that you are a star.”

“I will don’t worry”.

“Now then, I believe you have some maths homework to do?”

Sharvona groaned loudly, she hated maths and always skipped her classes if she could. Her mum gave her a gentle push in the direction of her bedroom.

“Go on with you” laughed her mum.

Sharvona flung herself on her bed. She lay on her back and stared at the ceiling. She knew she had to get the homework done otherwise she would be in detention. She really could not afford to get any more of those.

“Oh well, I guess I had better get on with this homework”. She picked up her pen and began.