Jade and the Carnival

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 Jade 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…

Jade had finished her lunch, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask to leave the table – not when her family were chatting about the Music and Dance Festival. It was going to be held just round the corner from them and Jade couldn’t wait.

“It’s so exciting!” said Lottie, one of her little sisters.

“Mummy’s said we can help on the cake stall, didn’t you, Mummy?” added Hannah, the other one.

Jade’s mum smiled as her dad turned to her little brothers. “You two rebels are helping me with the hoops game, you know!”

The twins bounced up and down in their seats, asking questions about their ‘special jobs,’ and how much money they’d be allowed to spend, while Jade drifted off into a daydream.

It was really wonderful that the festival was taking place so close. It made Jade feel extra specially connected to it. She’d already worked out a dance for her ballet class to do, and was sure that her teacher, Madame Za-Za, would help her teach it to everyone. She started to imagine performing the dance and how all the audience would clap loudly at the end. But a moment later she shot out of her daydream at the sound of her mum’s voice.

“Jade! You’re going to be late for your rehearsal!”

Jade leaped up from the table and rushed off to get her ballet bag. It was all packed and ready apart from her red ballet shoes, which she kept in her room. Running upstairs she felt another rush of excitement. She was about to go to the first practice for the festival. Going to Madame Za-Za’s twice in a day was a real treat, because Jade loved dancing more than anything in the world.

She tucked her precious red shoes in her bag and thought about how lucky she was to own them. They were so special – not just because so many brilliant ballerinas had worn them before her, but because the shoes were magic too! They had the power to take her to the Land of Enchantia where all the characters from the ballets lived. Jade had already been there, and each time she’d had the most incredible adventure.

“Right,” said Madame Za-Za, clapping her hands to hush the excitement as she looked round the class with shining eyes. “Now that I’ve explained about the Music and Dance Festival, it only remains for me to tell you about your role in the dancing!”

“I’ve got a good idea!” Chloe called out.

“Me too!” said Amber.

Jade couldn’t believe it when lots of other girls chimed in that they had ideas as well. This wasn’t what she had been expecting at all.

“Well, that is good,” said Madame Za-Za, bringing the silence back as she spoke, “because I think it best that you dance what you want to dance. It should be fun. So get into small groups and start work straight away. I’ll come round and help where needed.”

“But… but… excuse me, Madame Za-Za…” Jade quickly interrupted, feeling her heart beat faster. She really wanted everyone to dance her dance.

“I’ve been… reading about the ballet Petrouchka, and I’ve watched the DVD too, and it’s really great. It’s given me an idea for a character dance with lighthearted characters like clowns because Petrouchka is a puppet clown…”

Jade faded out. She could tell that the others didn’t think much of her idea, and even Madame Za-Za was looking a bit doubtful.

“I’ve never heard of Petrouchka!” Amy said.

“That’s no problem, I can teach you!” Jade answered quickly. “I thought a character dance would be really cool for an outdoor festival. We could dress up in brightly coloured costumes and even wear silly red noses,” she added. Then she stopped talking and looked round hopefully, but the rest of the class didn’t appear at all interested. A few of them were looking down or even pulling faces.