Rosa Maitland stood nervously in the queue of parents and girls waiting to go into the large ballet studio. Her best friend, Olivia, was beside her, chewing her lip. I canât believe weâre here and weâre actually about to audition for the Royal Ballet School! Rosa thought.
It still seemed like some impossible dream. Could it really be just a few months back that Rosa and Olivia, and some of the other girls who went to Madame Za-Zaâs dance school, had been invited to audition for White Lodge, the junior part of the Royal Ballet School?
It was a boarding school, and as well as doing normal lessons, the students had dancing classes every day. It was very hard to get in, and although Rosa and three of the other girls from school had made it through the Preliminary Auditions, the Final Auditions would be much harder. Rosaâs stomach felt like it was full of butterflies as they walked into the studio. âI feel so nervous.â
âMe too,â muttered Olivia.
Rosa spotted Delphie and Sukie, the other girls from Madame Za-Zaâs ballet school.
Rosa really liked Delphie, but she didnât usually get on with Sukie, who could be a bit mean. Delphie waved. Olivia and Rosa headed over to where they were sitting.
âHi,â Rosa said as their parents all greeted each other.
Sukie just nodded coolly, but Delphie looked delighted to see them. âHi.â She glanced round. âThere are loads of people auditioning, arenât there?â
Rosa nodded. There were around forty girls in the studio, but only about twelve girls would get picked. And everyone here will be really good, Rosa reminded herself as she sat down.
A lady in a black top walked to the front. Imogen Green, Rosa thought, recognising the Head of Auditions. Imogen clapped her hands and silence fell.
âWelcome to White Lodge, everyone,â Imogen said, smiling at them. âItâs lovely to see you all. Iâll start by explaining how the day will be run.â
Imogen told the girls that they would be split into two groups, each of which would take part in a dance class, do some writing, be seen by a doctor to check they were healthy, have an interview with the headteacher and go on a tour of the school. It all sounded very exciting!
When Imogen finished talking, the girls were split up. Delphie and Sukie were in one group and Olivia and Rosa in another â their group was dancing first.
âPhew!â Rosa whispered to Olivia as they got changed and helped each other with their hair. Finally Rosa took her red ballet shoes out of her bag and slipped them on. As she did up the ribbons, she smiled to herself.
After all, her shoes were very special. Sometimes, with no warning, they would start to sparkle and whisk her away to the magical land of Enchantia, where the characters from all the different ballets lived. Rosa thought about some of the amazing adventures sheâd had there and the people she had metâ¦
âRosa, come on!â Olivia said, nudging her.
Looking up, Rosa saw that the other girls were lining up at the door. She tucked in the ends of the ribbons and jumped to her feet.
âGood luck!â she said to her friend as they joined the others.
Olivia forced a nervous smile. âYou too.â
As soon as the dance class started, Rosa felt her nerves disappear. She concentrated on the familiar exercises, her whole mind focusing on bending and stretching, thinking about the line of her arms, pointing her toes and lengthening her back. She enjoyed herself so much she almost forgot that there were six examiners watching her!
After the dance class, the girls met up with their parents for juice and biscuits, then went off with the rest of their group to a classroom where they had to write about what they wanted to be and what they liked doing. Rosa wrote as much as she could about her life and her dreams of becoming a ballerina.