4x09 My Realm
Rhythm Nation
(AKA an excuse to make pretty things of pretty people)
Meta 364 Words
Welcome to the New York Dance Academy, the city’s most prestigious dance school. Since its creation in the 1950’s, NYDA has focused exclusively on the art of ballet. Thousands of teenagers from all over the world descend upon the campus to audition for the exclusive 75 slots available each year for new dancers. The staff is among the best in the country and its every dancers dream to get their pale pink acceptance letter. Nothing has changed in its 60 years of operations until budget cuts, force the board of directors to look at changing the way things are done.
The first step is to hire a new President, out is the stuffy Russian who has held the position for the previous 40 years and in comes a 30 something New Yorker with fresh ideas that not everyone is happy with. His first step to redefining the university is to expand the curriculum. Classes are added to teach tap, ballroom, and worst of all to most of the old students- hip hop. Not only is their entire curriculum changed, the students find their campus invaded by all kinds of dancers who would have never made the cut when it was exclusively ballet.
The old students resent the new ones, angry that their favorite instructors lost jobs in order to hire new teachers for classes which they care nothing for. The ballet kids keep their distance from everyone else, putting off a stuck up air, that may or may not be exactly what it seems.
As the year continues, classes are switched up and students are forced to partner with someone out of the specific discipline. Some pairs wind up hating each other, others forge nervous friendships, while others develop into something more.
Will the president’s plan succeed, will the school once again rise to the cream of the crop, or will their differences pull them all apart and destroy the school they all love?
The Characters
Ballet
Tap
Hip Hop
Ballroom
The Story
Drabble ~600 words
President Stallings stood in the large performance hall staring out over the students. Some of them he’d taught for 4 years. Many of them would continue to come back for classes even well after they had met the graduation requirements. It was one of the things that he loved most about the Academy, there was an unspoken rule that once you were a student you were a student for life. Sure graduated students could be ask to leave at any time, but he’d never seen that happen when someone showed up unregistered for a class.
He shook his head trying to stop himself from digressing any further down the path which he had started. He had come here for a reason, he needed to pass the information along to his dancers, and if he didn’t do it soon he was scared he was going to lose the will to do it at all.
With a deep breath he turned on the microphone before him and cleared his throat. It barely took a second before all the talking had ceased and all of the students eyes were on him. “I’m sure you are all wondering why I called this assembly. I’m sure some of you are even grumbling about having to get out of bed early on your day off.” he began the latter part of his statement earning him a few chuckles.
“I hope you all know that I wouldn’t be doing this unless it is absolutely necessary. Our beloved school is losing funding. It seems interest is not quite as high as it once was. New forms of dance seem to attract both young dancers and audiences alike. As much as I hate to say this, we realized that this school had to change or perhaps we would be forced to close our doors forever.”
An audible gasp arose from the students, “Don’t worry,” he rushed forward, “we have come up with a solution, unfortunately the solution involves me longer acting as president of the school.”
“What no!” Spencer cried out from the front row.
“I know it will be a difficult adjustment, but I know in time you will all see it was for the best.” he explained, “Also the curriculum will be expanded to include other forms of dance.”
This time several more students joined in the objections.
“But I want to be a ballerina, not a commercial dancer.” Amber shouted out.
“We have to adjust with the times, we have to draw in more students” the president desperately tried to explain.
His students were in a frenzy, all shouting their objections over one another. He watched as one of his favorite students stood up and spoke loudly her voice rising over the others, “I think we can all agree that this sucks. Each and every one of us came her to learn the art of ballet from some of the most gifted dancers in the world, but can’t we also all agree that its better to make some sacrifices than to lose the school forever?” Madeline said glancing around trying to connect with those around her.
The president wasn’t sure if the other students agreed with his star pupil or not, but they had stopped their clamoring and were actually listening to her.
“I mean, maybe this could help us change the future of dance forever. There is so much we can teach others and so much more that we can learn.” she tried again but that lost her the support she had been gaining.
More students jumped up and started yelling. The president sighed and shook his head, this new guy sure had a long road ahead of him.
Drabble ~600 Words
Tristan Samuels leaned in the doorway watching as Madeline Grimes twirled effortless around the floor. Every movement of her arms had a meaning, a grace, and effortlessnes to it that he had never seen in another dancer. She was without a doubt the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He wasn’t quite sure how long she had realized he was watching her, but she turned around a perfectly manicured hand resting on her hip as her chest heaved slightly, the only sign that her body had been through any kind of exertion.
“You just going to stand there?” she asked raising an eyebrow as she reached for her water bottle and squirted it into her mouth.
“I didn’t think a ballerina like you would want a street trained dancer anywhere near you,” he teased as he pushed himself out of the door jam and began to move towards her.
She turned her nose up in feigned disgust, “I didn’t mean you should come in.”
“You expected me to just leave?” he challenged still stalking towards her.
“Tristan…” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“What?” he asked innocently reaching to close the blinds to the windows as he passed by them.
“If they see us.” Madeline tried again.
“Seriously, those ballet kids need to get the sticks out of their asses.” Tristan replied rolling his eyes.
“Hey those ballet kids are my friends.” she objected.
“And they look at me like I’m some kind of gum they found on the bottom of their shoe.” he said finally standing directly before her.
His scent enveloped her as she reached up to stroke his cheek, “They just don’t know what they’re missing.” she tried to explain.
He nuzzled her hand gently, “Maybe if we could actually dance together somewhere, they’d see how well our styles could blend together.
“Like this?” she said suddenly turning around so that her back was to him and giving him a coy look over her shoulder did a series of pirouettes away from him.
Tristan laughed and ran a hand through his hair before dancing on his knees over towards her.
When he reached her, she leaned down placing a hand underneath his chin and guiding him back to his feet. He pulled her body close to his and they both moved to the beat of the music which could only be heard in their heads.
After a few counts of eight of perfectly in sync movements, Madeline danced away and then took a running leap in Tristan’s arms. He easily caught her pulling her down from the high lift, cradling her in his arms like a small child.
By the time her feet met the floor, her lips were on his. One of his hands rose to tangle in her hair, as she stood on her tip toes to better reach him. After a few moments, he pulled away resting his forehead against hers.
“See we do make a pretty good team,” Tristan said smiling down at her.
“Eh kind of,” she said moving away from him to grab her dance bag. She slung it over her shoulder, “but you should really work on your extensions.” she teased.
He shook his head unable to stop the laugh that slipped from his mouth, “So same time tomorrow?”
She paused in the doorway, resting her hand in the archway, “You know it.” She blew him one more kiss and then disappeared from view.
He stood, feet glued to the spot, watching her until he couldn’t any longer. Shaking his head he counted to twenty and then exited the room himself. That girl was going to be the death of him.
The Music
1. We're Dancing//PYT Listen
And we're dancin'
And it feels alright
Can't hold me down
Gotta reach for the sky
And we're dancin'
And it feels alright
Yeah
Some people don't know the love you possess
They pretend what they don't understand
It's natural
You're in a world of your own
Ohhhhh oh
There's a passion inside
An inner strength that drives
Can't nobody take that away from you
It's the greatest high
You set the floor on fire
When you come alive
2. Dancing//Elisa Listen
So I put my arms around you around you
And I hope that I will do no wrong
My eyes are on you they're on you
And I hope that you won't hurt me
I'm dancing in the room as if I was in the woods with you
No need for anything but music
Music's the reason why I know time still exists
Time still exists
Time still exists
Time still exists
3. Tiny Dancer//Elton John Listen
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
you had a busy day today
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
4. Will You Dance With Me//Julianne Hough Listen
I'm a dancer
And I move to the rhythm of the music
Oh, it carries me away
Yes I'm a dancer
I was born to live this life
I did not choose it
And when the song begins to play
Oh please, please
Will you dance with me?
5. Let Me Be Your Star//Smash Listen
Her smile and your fantasies play a duet
That will make you forget where you are.
The music starts playing,
It's the beat of her heart saying...
Let me be your star.
Flashback to a girl
With a song in her heart,
As she's waiting to start the adventure.
The fire and drive
That make dreams come alive...
They fill her soul.
She's in control...
6. What I Did For Love//A Chorus Line Listen
Wish me luck, the same to you.
But I can't regret
What I did for love, what I did for love.
7. You Love Who you Love//Laura Osnes Listen
Most girls would hate to be standing in my shoes.
But true love’s something you don’t choose.
Both: For you love who you love.
And you go with what you feel.
Blanche: And you never think what’s down the road
While the fairytale seems real.
8. Opposites Attract//Paula Abdul Listen
Who'd a thought we could be lovers
She makes the bed
And he steals the covers
She likes it neat
And he makes a mess
I take it easy
Baby I get obsessed
She's got the money
And he's always broke
I don't like cigarettes
And I like to smoke
9. How Bout A Dance//Laura Osnes Listen
How ‘bout a dance? Let’s make a start.
Music like this can really throw you.
You’ll lose the blues, and you may lose your heart.
Tonight is the night I’ve been waiting for.
Even the moon looks just right.
I’m sure the crowd will make room on the floor.
When they see you look like you do.
10. Just Dance//Lady Gaga Listen
What's going on on the floor?
I love this record baby but I can't see straight anymore
Keep it cool, what's the name of this club?
I can't remember but it's alright, a-alright
Just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm
Just dance, spin that record babe, da da doo-doo-mmm
Just dance, gonna be okay, d-d-d-dance
Dance, dance, just, j-j-just dance
