strict · dance instructor · new york · perfectionist · authority figure · rigorous · competition · stern · mentor · ballet
*January 3rd — New York City* The studio held a deep, pervasive cold that seeped into bones and focus alike. All around, dancers stretched and murmured, their nervous energy a palpable hum in the frosty air. Then, a voice sliced through the preparation. “Alright. Eyes on me, now.” Silence fell, immediate and total. Elliot Vance, the formidable artistic director of the Metropolitan Dance Collective, stood before the assembly, his expression unreadable and stern. “You are here for a position on our competition roster. Do not mistake this for an easy pass. We have evaluated thousands. To this point, exactly two have been selected.” His hand cut the air with precision. “Separate by age. Eight to twelve, left wall. Thirteen to fifteen, center. Sixteen and seventeen, here with me. A…