Holly and the Ice Palace

To Phoebe and Zoe, as they are the inspiration behind Magic Ballerina.

Welcome to the world of Enchantia!

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 Holly 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 …

Holly Wilde ran excitedly up the steps of her ballet school. She was about to audition for the local production of The Nutcracker, which Madame Za-Za, her ballet teacher, was helping to produce, and there was one particular part that Holly was desperate to get. She could still feel the tight good-luck hug that her aunt had given her at home a few moments before.

“Just remember what your mum told you,” her aunt had said.

“Don’t worry, I will!” Holly had replied, nodding hard.

Holly’s parents were both professional ballet dancers. They had divorced and were so often away on tour with their different ballet companies that it was easier for Holly to live with her aunt and uncle during term time. Holly really missed her mum, but whenever she felt sad she reminded herself that they had two big things connecting them. Firstly, they both loved each other, and secondly, they totally loved ballet.

And I’ve got a special ballet secret all of myown! thought Holly, as she pushed open the door to Madame Za-Za’s. She glanced down at the red ballet shoes poking out of her bag and smiled. Her shoes had special powers – when they glowed it meant they were about to take Holly on a magical journey to the Land of Enchantia, where all the characters from the ballets lived. It had happened quite a few times already, and each time Holly had an amazing adventure.

“Hi, Holly! Are you nervous? I am!” Her friend Chloe had caught up with her and they went into the changing rooms together.

“I do feel a bit nervous,” admitted Holly. “But excited too. I’ve been practising like mad and I’m determined to get the part of a Snow Maiden.”

“Me too,” said Chloe, “but, you know, apart from us, it’s only older students auditioning to be Snow Maidens.”

Holly stared out of the window, suddenly wrapped up in a memory of the first time she’d ever seen The Nutcracker. Her mum had taken her to the theatre when she was only five, and she could still remember the magic thrill inside her at the sight of the Prince and Clara, travelling through the Land of Snow in a glittering magic sleigh on their way to the Land of Sweets.

But the Snow Maidens were even more magical than Clara and the Prince. They had seemed to float around the stage like the softest snowflakes as they’d danced.

Holly sighed at the lovely memory as she broke out of her daydream, then began to put on her silver-white tutu over her pale tights.

“Mum said the Waltz of the Snowflakes is very difficult,” Holly told her friend. “She said it’s important to listen to the music really carefully.”

Chloe nodded, and the two girls warmed up until they were called into the studio.

“This is it!” whispered Chloe, going in first.

“Good luck!” mouthed Holly.

Then she gasped as she followed Chloe through the door. It was as though the studio had been transformed into the Land of Snow, with glistening scenery. Across one wall was a backdrop of icy silver and blue, covered with bright white snowflakes like stars.

In a flash, Holly felt herself transported back to the theatre where she’d seen The Nutcracker all those years ago.

I’m going to make you proud, Mum, she said to herself, lifting her chin and feeling determination rush through her as she walked to her place.

“How do you think it went?” asked Chloe, clutching Holly’s hand outside in the corridor when the audition was over.

Almost immediately, they were surrounded by other students. “What was it like? Did it go well?” they wanted to know.

Holly was going back over the audition in her head. She thought it had been all right, but you could never be sure.

“I took your mum’s advice and focused on the music like mad,” said Chloe, as she set off back to the changing rooms with the others.