It was a waste of time …. and tears were beginning to form in her stockings, jagged zig-zags that looked like fault lines.

“Vanessa, ballerinas are supposed to be delicate in their movements, not stomp around like elephants.”

The other girls, those heavenly creatures in their petal-colored leotards, snickered in a very unladylike way. Vanessa sighed. Yes, it was a waste of time to be enrolled in this class at Ballet Etudes, but her mother had insisted.

Apparently, their teacher had decided enough was enough, because she turned off the stereo.

Vanessa resisted the urge to squeal with delight. This was her favorite part of class, the only part she liked: the FREE dance!

“OK, girls, that’s enough practice. Enjoy yourselves. Let loose. Let’s see some creativity!”

And creativity is exactly what Vanessa gave them. She spun around and around and around, growing more dizzy, more ecstatic, with each passing turn. She didn’t notice the other girls stop and stare at her, unconcealed envy in their eyes.