Dance Your Heart Out

Alyssa loved to dance ever since she was three. She danced in her mom’s kitchen to any song that was playing on the radio. She would even put on her mom’s clothes and shoes. In the car she would sing her mom’s favorite song, “I Can Only Imagine,” with her mom. She’d tap her foot in class as she hummed a song in her head.

Now that she’s older she dances her heart out for a professional dance company called, “Dance Away.” Her mom danced for the same company her whole life. Alyssa puts on gorgeous outfits and dances to really great songs that she picks.

It’s the day of the competition that she has been waiting for. She has on a dark blue, glitter dress that goes above her knees. Her hair is up in a curly bun she’s wearing blue mascara.

“Alright up and down Alyssa,” her coach says.

Alyssa grips the ballet bar and practices her foot work. As she practices, she sees her rival walking over. “Great. Well if it isn’t Peyton Anderson,” Alyssa says, putting on a fake smile.

“Alyssa, I see you’re still trying to out show me,” Peyton says, returning the fake smile.

Alyssa stops practicing and walks closer. “Oh please, just because we’ve tied for second place for three years in a row, doesn’t mean I need to try hard to outshine you. We all know your pirouettes are terrible.”

Peyton gasps/ “Whatever,” she says and storms off.

Alyssa’s coach places a hand on her shoulder. “Ignore her and keep practicing.”

Alyssa sighs and walks back to the ballet bar. She closes her eyes and goes back to practicing. As she got ready, she kept thinking about the competition. She always worked hard for this moment. She had put long late hours into her routine to prepare for the competition.

About an hour later the announcer calls for Peyton to perform. Alyssa walks to the side where the curtain is open so she can watch. Peyton starts in her position as the music starts, she starts to dance occasionally spinning and jumping high doing the splits. Two minutes later the song ends, Peyton poses, and the crowd erupts in applause. Once the applause subsides, Peyton bows and walks to Alyssa who was still watching. “Top that,” she says cocky like before walking off.

Alyssa clenches her fist tightly and walks back to her coach.

“Alright you’re up after the next girl,” her coach says.

“I don’t think I can do it. Peyton did better than last year so there’s no way I will be able to beat her,” Alyssa says, sounding defeated.

“Come with me,” her coach says, leading her to an empty hallway. They stop in front of a wall that is filled with pictures of past winners. One catches Alyssa’s attention. It’s of a young woman in a black dress looking beautiful jumping in the air doing a kick.

“Mom,” Alyssa says quietly as she places her hand on the picture.

“You’re mom had won the competition the year before she had you. She told me it was her last competition because she wanted to have a family. She always talked about having a daughter so she had someone to dance with,” her coach says with a soft smile.

Alyssa’s eyes prickle with tears as she looks at the picture. “God, I wish she was here,” Alyssa says in a soft whisper.

Her coach pulls her into a tight hug. “I know sweetie. But just remember she’s up there watching. And I bet she’s already so proud of you.”

Alyssa cries into her coach’s shoulder, and clings to her like she’s a lifeline.

Around twenty minutes later, Alyssa had fixed her makeup and was standing behind the curtain waiting for the announcer to call for her. “Give it up for Alyssa Gilliam!” the announcer says as the crowd erupts in applause again.

Alyssa walks out on stage and gets into position. “This is for you mom,” she whispers to herself. The song, “I Can Only Imagine,” begins and Alyssa starts to dance effortlessly. Her spins are flawless as she focuses hard on her movements. She perfected her pirouettes, arabesques and leaps.

The crowd is silent as they watch her fly across the stage. A couple minutes later the song comes to an end and Alyssa stops in her ending pose breathing hard. The crowd was so silent you could hear a pin drop. But then they burst out into a loud applause. Some people are standing up cheering and some are whistling. Alyssa smiles happily and does a little bow towards the crowd before running to her coach who picks her up and spins her.

“I’m so proud of you,” her coach says happily as she sets her down.

“Thank you, I couldn’t have done it without you,” Alyssa says happily.

The coach smiles. “Your mom would be so proud of you. You danced your heart out just like your mom always did.”

Alyssa hugs her tightly. “I wish she was here to see it.”

“Sweetie, I know and she’s watching you up there,” her coach says reassuringly.

Thirty minutes later the judges finished up and the announcer was getting ready. “Thank you to everyone who had performed. This was a very hard choice, but the judges have come to a decision. In second place we have..”

Alyssa holds her coach’s hand tightly as she waits anxiously for the announcer to finish. The crowd is silent again holding their breaths.

“Peyton Anderson!” the announcer says.

Peyton looks at her friends. “What?! Not first?!” she says angrily. Peyton stomps on to the stage with a fake smile and accepts the second place trophy.

Alyssa looks at her coach. “No way. Maybe I made first! Or I didn’t qualify.”

Her coach smiles and says, “it has to be first.” They turn towards the announcer.

“And in first place we have,” the announcer pauses dramatically. Alyssa can feel the air get thick as she waits. “Alyssa Gilliam!” the announcer says, screaming into the microphone.

Alyssa freezes as her name leaves the announcer’s mouth. Then when her coach touches her shoulder, she snaps out of it. Alyssa jumps up and down excitedly and hugs her coach. “I did it! I got first!!” Alyssa yells excitedly.

The crowd cheers loudly again causing the sound to ring out through the room. She runs on stage and accepts the first place award. She holds the trophy high above her head. “Thank you so much!” she yelled out, as her voice cracked with excitement. She smiles for a picture next to Peyton and the third place winner. Alyssa glances at Peyton whose expression is a mixture of disappointment and anger. “Hey your routine was strong and you did great out there,” Alyssa says kindly.

Peyton looks at her as her expression softens, “Thank you Alyssa. I do have to admit your routine was pretty fantastic. I guess I let the competition get to me and I’m so sorry for how I acted.”

Alyssa looks at her kindly. “It’s okay I get it. But don’t let the competition get to you. Dancing is about having fun and to feel free.”

“Yes, you’re right I’ll remember that next time. Hey, maybe we can help each other out next time?” Peyton asks hopefully.

Alyssa smiles softly. “I’d love that. Hug?” Alyssa asks.

Peyton nods and pulls her into a hug for the first time. As they pull away and the pictures have stopped Alyssa runs back to her coach with the trophy tightly in her hands.

“Congratulations sweetheart!” Her coach says giving her a hug again.

“Thank you so much.” Then she gets an idea, “Hey, can you take a picture of me with my mom’s photo?” Alyssa asks.

Her coach nods and they walk back to the hallway where the pictures were. Alyssa stands right next to it holding the trophy tightly in her hands. Her coach holds up her phone and Alyssa smiles. The phone’s camera flashes brightly signaling she took it.

Alyssa looks at the photo on the phone. “Perfect. Thank you,” she says smiling at the photo.

“Of course. Let’s get you changed and let’s celebrate your win. We’ll go to your favorite restaurant!” her coach says excitedly.

Alyssa nods. “I’ll be right there,” she says looking back at her mom’s photo.

Her coach nods knowing she needs a minute and walks back down the hallway.

Alyssa looks back at her mom’s photo and places a hand on the picture frame. “I did it mom. Just for you. I danced my heart out,” Alyssa says as a tear rolls down her cheek. “I hope I made you proud,” Alyssa says before walking down the hallway with her trophy.

In the end, it doesn’t matter who took home the trophy. Alyssa won her own personal victory by following in her mom’s footsteps. She won the competition and made her rival into a new friend. But most importantly, she danced her heart out.