Delphie and the Birthday Show

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Author’s Note

Map

Prologue

1. In Class

2. New Shoes

3. King Rat’s Mischief

4. The Forest Fairies

5. Stolen Shoes

6. True Love

7. A New Beginning

Epilogue

Darcey’s Magical Masterclass

Acknowledgements

Copyright

About the Publisher

I have always loved to dance. The captivating music and wonderful stories of ballet are so inspiring. So come with me and let’s follow Delphie on her magical adventures in Enchantia, where the stories of dance will take you on a very special journey.

p.s. Turn to the back to learn a special dance step from me…

In the soft, pale light, the girl stood with her head bent and her hands held lightly in front of her. There was a moment’s silence and then the first notes of the music began. For as long as the girl could remember music had seemed to tell her of another world – a magical, exciting world – that lay far, far away. She always felt if she could just close her eyes and lose herself, then she would get there. Maybe this time. As the music swirled inside her, she swept her arms above her head, rose on to her toes and began to dance …

Delphie sprang lightly into the air, crossing her feet over before she landed. Little jump, little jump, pas de chat, she thought as she sprang to the side like a cat. Stretch, bend and pas de chat. She landed without a single wobble, her shoulders down and her arms graceful, a smile on her face.

“Excellent, Delphie!” Madame Za-Za, her ballet teacher, exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

Happiness rushed through Delphie as she relaxed and ran back to take her place beside the others in the class. Madame Za-Za hardly ever said “excellent”.

Delphie had been having lessons at Madame Za-Za’s ballet school for seven months now. Madame Za-Za had caught her watching outside the dance studio window one evening and asked her in. When she had seen Delphie dance she had offered to teach her for free – and had given her the clothes she needed and a pair of old red ballet shoes.

Delphie looked down at her shoes. They were getting very tight but she didn’t want to have new ballet shoes because the red ones were magic! Every so often they would sparkle like rubies and whisk Delphie away to Enchantia, a magic land where all the characters from the different ballets lived. Delphie had had lots of adventures there.

If I have new shoes then I won’t ever get to go to Enchantia again, she thought. She was also sure that the shoes helped her to dance really well.

Trying to ignore her cramped toes, she focused on the girl who was dancing now. It was Rosa. She had only joined Madame Za-Za’s ballet school a couple of months ago. She was the youngest in the class but a really good dancer and she was quickly catching up with everyone else. Delphie watched as Rosa completed the sequence. There was a wonderful energy about her dancing that Delphie really admired.

Delphie smiled and put her thumbs up as Rosa hurried back to the group. Although Rosa grinned, most of the time she kept herself to herself and Delphie didn’t feel she knew much about her. I should get to know her better, she thought.

When the class finished they all went back to the changing rooms, chatting amongst themselves.

Delphie caught up with Rosa. “Poppy and Lola are coming back to mine on Saturday after class. Would you like to come too?”

Rosa immediatly shook her head. “I can’t.”

Delphie was a bit surprised at Rosa’s abrupt reply. “Oh. Oh, OK, well, you’ll just have to come round another time then.” She expected Rosa to nod but Rosa didn’t.

“No. I… I really can’t,” she said firmly.

“What? Not ever?” Delphie frowned.

“No. Not ever. I’ve left my cardigan in the ballet studio!” Rosa said suddenly. “I’d better go and get it.” And with that, she hurried off.

Delphie stared after her. She had the feeling Rosa had been trying to escape from talking to her. But why? She went into the changing rooms feeling very confused.

“Are you OK?” Lola asked, seeing her face.

“Mmm.” Delphie sat down beside her. “I just asked Rosa if she wanted to come round on Saturday but she said no, and then she said she couldn’t ever come round.”

Lola and Poppy stared. “That’s weird,” said Poppy. “She’s usually quite friendly.”

Delphie spoke in a low voice, keeping one eye on the door in case Rosa came in. “I know. It’s odd. I wonder why…”

But just then the door opened and Rosa came in. Delphie quickly changed the subject. “Madame Za-Za didn’t say anything more about us wearing pointe shoes today, did she?”

The others shook their heads.

A few days ago, Madame Za-Za had told them that she thought some of the class were ready to start dancing on their pointes. It meant wearing special ballet shoes then that had blocks in the ends so that they could stand right on their toes just like proper ballerinas. Delphie knew that it was important for people not to start using pointe shoes until their muscles were strong enough. Madame Za-Za hadn’t said who in the class was almost ready but ever since she had mentioned it, Delphie, Poppy and Lola had been desperately hoping she meant them.