Read Online Dancer at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant - Free Book Online Page A

around in leotards and tights, but no sign of Miss Morgan. We couldn’t hear what any of the girls were saying, but when Abi put on the music it came over quite clearly. A moment later, the girls started doing individual stretches on the floor to the music to get warmed up, and it took me right back to my own classes. If Miss Amelia was here now, she’d be telling Kate to slow down. I could just hear her voice. You’ll sprain something working at that speed. Abi, on the other hand, was stretching very slowly and thoroughly and avoiding putting any strain on her left leg. She looked almost professional, and it was thrilling to watch her.
    Then we suddenly saw Miss Morgan go into the hall from the main corridor, her dance skirt flaring out as she ran with the lightest of footsteps across the hall. Immediately everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered around her. She must have been saying something important to Abi, because Abi kept on nodding hard, then shaking her head and looking serious. And as the others all got into their positions, with Olivia in the centre of the chalked rectangle, a proud look on her face that she was taking the main part, Abi sat on the floor ready to watch them.
    I felt disappointed that I wouldn’t be seeing her dance. Miss Morgan must have told her not to join in, in case she damaged her hamstring again. My heart raced as Miss Morgan changed the music and the dance began. It was almost as though I was actually taking part in the rehearsal myself, and I wished I could hear what Miss Morgan was saying every time she stopped the action and made a comment. At one point she demonstrated something to Olivia, and she looked so amazing that I was sure she must have been a professional dancer before she took up teaching. I could have watched her all day.
    Every fibre of my body was absorbed in what was going on, so it gave me a shock when Sasha suddenly said, “I’ve just remembered, I said I’d go and help with the scenery painting again, Izzy. Do you want to come?”
    â€œIt’s…okay, Sash. I’ll just watch a bit more of this.”
    She smiled. “See you at supper then.”
    And then I was straight back into the rehearsal. The choreography was lovely, and Olivia was easily the best dancer there, then Maria. Kate and the others weren’t turning out or extending their legs as much as they should, and they couldn’t move as smoothly or expressively as Maria and Olivia.
    After a while, Miss Morgan started pacing around with a big frown on her face as though she was deep in thought. I wondered if she was trying to decide whether to let Abi dance after all. And after a few seconds it looked as though I was right, because Miss Morgan suddenly turned to Abi and said something, and in a flash Abi was reaching for her pointe shoes, then quickly putting them on and tying the ribbons. She looked so happy as she walked over to the chalked-out stage.
    Kate seemed even more delighted. She gave Abi a big hug, then practically skipped off the stage area and stood to one side. Olivia looked furious as she moved out of the centre to the position that Kate had just had at the side, and Abi took up the central position.
    This time, when the music started and Abi rose up onto pointe and raised her arms into fifth position, I felt such magic tingles all over me it was unbelievable. Even though she obviously wasn’t dancing with her full energy, her performance was stunning. But she’d only been dancing for a few minutes when she stopped suddenly, clutching the top of her left leg at the back, and said something to Miss Morgan, before going to get herself a chair. Miss Morgan looked really concerned and so was I.
    After that, the rehearsal just kind of fizzled out and I watched as everyone left the hall. Then I listened as they walked along the main corridor. Abi was saying, “I felt fine for ages, but now it’s hurting like mad.”
    â€œYou