Read Online Let the Dance Begin by Lynda Waterhouse - Free Book Online Page A

pleased but Mrs Sandskrit glared back at them. ‘A sand dancer should arrive for her class exactly on time. Too early and she has probably skipped a meal and
is trying to draw attention to herself. Too late and she shows me she is too greedy either for food or extra sleep. If you are to succeed, then absolute discipline is required in all aspects of
your life. Is that clear?’
    They all nodded, trying not to giggle.
    ‘The correct response is “Yes, Madame”. You will stay behind after class and assist the senior sand dancer with the tidying up. You might learn something from her about the
correct way to conduct yourselves.’
    Yes, Madame.’ There were no smiles this time.
    The other sand sprites were coming into class and listening. When everyone was inside Mrs Sandskrit clapped her hands and the room fell silent.
    ‘Welcome to your first day at Sandringham. You have all been selected for your potential. We are seeking to find those of you who have got the talent to make it as dune dancers. Here is
where the hard work begins on that journey. We are going back to basics. During your first six weeks here you will be perfecting the seven basic dance moves. At the end of this time you will be
tested, and if you are not good enough or if I decide that you do not have the right temperament, then you will be sent home. There is no point in keeping on sprites who are not suited to dancing.
Is that clear?’
    Everyone nodded. ‘Yes, Madame.’
    The words dried up in Cassie’s mouth. She hoped she would be able to cope. She stroked one of the flowers on her practice outfit to calm herself.
    Mrs Sandskrit paused and looked round at all the sand sprites. ‘Let us not forget that your aim in coming here is to try to become dune dancers – the elite corps of sand dancers. Not all
of you will succeed – some of you will fail. Most of you will make up the chorus, which is still an honour. Only the truly talented will go on to become the principal dune dancers, and from them
the prima dune dancer will be selected. I wonder which of you that will be. The first steps begin today.
    ‘Now let’s begin with Step one – the Sand Stretch . . .’
    Cassie took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. This was not how she’d imagined her first morning at dance school would be. If only she had ignored Shell and gone down to breakfast
with the others . . .
    She felt a hard tap on her shoulder and a flash of yellow in front of her eyes as she looked up to see Mrs Sandskrit standing next to her, staring at her with a fierce expression. ‘You are
not giving me your full attention. Look where you are now standing. You have drifted into another dancer’s space and the line of your arm is terrible. Look at this everyone. Here is a perfect
example of how not to do a Sand Stretch. The hands are all over the place and the feet are out of alignment.’
    Cassie felt everyone’s eyes on her and she would have run out of the door if she hadn’t caught Calluna smirking at her.
    I’ll show you, she thought as she glared back at Calluna. I am going to learn no matter how many mistakes or enemies I make!
    She took another deep breath and gracefully moved her arms into the correct position.
    ‘Better,’ Mrs Sandskrit said.
    Mrs Sandskrit mopped her forehead as she called out, ‘Bend and stretch, bend and stretch. Put some elasticity in your legs.’
    She walked around the room correcting everyone’s posture. ‘A sand dancer must be able to bend as well as to stretch. A bend will give you the energy to take off and land.’
    They had been working on combining Sand Stretches with Sand Pliés, and it was very hard work, but to her surprise Cassie found a deep determination inside her to keep going until she got
the steps right. She bent her legs as low as she could.
    Mrs Sandskrit came over to her.
    ‘Feel the emotion as you stretch and bend. You will never be able to perform a dune dance without feelings. The ability to communicate