Slowly Holly sat upright on the sofa, her eyes never leaving the screen. She was watching the end of the ballet of Cinderella, her favourite bit. She caught her breath as the Spring Fairy leaped softly into a grand jeté, almost floating in the air, before landing gracefully. Holly leaned forward, her hands clasped tight together as she watched the dancer flutter and move with the lightest of steps. Then the credits went up.
Her mother, a professional ballerina, had been dancing the role of the Spring Fairy. Sheâs just the best, thought Holly, blinking back the tears. It had been so wonderful staying with Mum over the Christmas holidays and learning the steps to this very dance herself. But now it was January, and a new school term had started, so Holly was back living with her Aunt Maria and Uncle Ted while Mum was on tour with the ballet company. She liked her aunt and uncle, but it wasnât quite the same.
Still, it wouldnât be long till half term. Holly glanced at her watch and jumped up. Sheâd been so absorbed in Cinderella that sheâd completely lost track of the time. She was due at Madame Za-Zaâs ballet school in five minutes. Sheâd have to hurry if she was going to make it in time for class.
Grabbing her ballet bag and throwing on her jacket, she rushed out into the cold air.
âAnd-one-and-two-and-keep-in-time â¦â came Madame Za-Zaâs voice, crisp and clear, as the girls sank down in their pliés.
Holly felt a rush of happiness flood through her as she did what she loved most in the world.
âPush down into the floor as you straighten up ⦠Nice work, Holly,â called Madame Za-Za.
Hollyâs friend, Chloe, smiled at her as the class turned at the barre to do pliés on the other side. Holly smiled right back. It was lovely to have a new friend â up until last term, she hadnât really made any. Her parents had divorced over six years ago, and there had been a lot of moving around since. Her dad was a professional dancer as well, and, although Holly occasionally spent time with him, she was mainly with her mum or her aunt and uncle.
Holly concentrated hard, as Madame Za-Za instructed the class to move to the centre.
âUse your eyes, girls! Feel the magic!â said Madame Za-Za, walking down the rows of students, tilting a head here or raising an arm there.
As Holly checked her position in the ceiling-to-floor mirror of the studio, her eyes fell on her old red ballet shoes. They might look shabby, but they were really special. When sheâd first been given them, sheâd never imagined quite how special. They looked so ordinary, but they were a million miles from that, thought Holly, as she opened her arms from first to second position.
For Holly had a special secret. Her ballet shoes were magic! Twice already they had whisked her away to the land of Enchantia, where all the characters from the ballets lived, and where Holly had the most incredible adventures.
The class were working on a new position now, one that the Fairy Godmother held in the ballet of Cinderella. As Holly raised her leg behind her, trying not to wobble, pictures of the characters sheâd met in Enchantia whizzed through her mind, finishing with the White Cat.
She couldnât help breaking into a smile at the thought of him.
âHolly, are you daydreaming?â Madame Za-Zaâs sharp voice cut into Hollyâs imaginings. âYour hand is drooping. Youâve lost your extension!â
Instantly, Holly snapped back to attention. How could she have let her position slip like that? She really needed to pay more attention.
âRise up through your spines, girls.â
Hollyâs legs and arms were aching with the effort of holding the position, and she noticed a few girls letting go and sighing as they flopped forward.
âLower the leg and close in fifth,â instructed Madame Za-Za, then after a few seconds she added, âand relax.â