Page 31 of Tendu: Dancing in the Castle

Aleks removed his hand from mine and walked over to the piano.

“It’s funny,” said Will, looking straight back at me. “I was just thinking about, you know, back then, and about what a complete idiot I was. Am, even.”

Justin gasped. “That’s the most intelligent thing I’ve ever heard Hearst say. That amalgamation thingy really has upped our IQs, hasn’t it?”

“An interesting assessment, Mr. Bevan,” said Michelle, entering the room. “Tell me more.”

“I’ve been imparting wisdom up, down, and centre stage,” replied Justin.

“Really?” she said, amused as she turned to look at me. “And are you both feeling better today?”

I let Justin answer in the affirmative for us, aware that it would be appropriate to apologise for yesterday’s rudeness but feeling utterly unwilling to do so. Her reds had changed. She wore a maroon dress and black shoes. The lipstick and nails matched each other, and were a very similar shade to the dress.

“I can see you two are going to be my star pupils,” she said with a wide smile. “Good heavens, Aleks. You look rough.”

How dare she? He was unbelievably handsome, all dishevelled and lovely. I wanted to go straight home to bed with him.

“Are you really okay now?” Will asked as Michelle commandeered Aleks, and the others started to arrive.

I nodded.

“Weird thing that,” he said, but then class began.

It was easy, something we had become unaccustomed to since Aleks started teaching us. The mirror had an interesting and new story to tell as I gazed into it. Justin, Will and I were changed. We were better. So much better. It was almost unbelievable that such a dramatic improvement had taken place in so short a time. In less than a term, we had grown obviously stronger and more supple. But the biggest difference to be seen was in the way we held ourselves. Our stance and arm movements showed some of that special quality I’d noticed in Aleks back in that very first class of his.

And it wasn’t just us three. The other students in the studio had it too. For a moment, I was overcome with emotion. I felt such love for Justin and Will; they deserved this opportunity so much. And the others too, though I didn’t really know them. I knew we were all heading to greater things than we had been, and it was because of Aleks’s teaching. My goal of being the best dancer I could be was actually happening.

And Aleks. My dear Aleks. He’d lost one career, but he had found another calling, another gift. He would do great things too.

I’d missed the explanation of the next exercise, but picked it up at once by watching Will. We were all much quicker in that capacity too.

In the centre, tight-lipped and tentative, we performed Amalgamation C, and it produced no results in anyone. There was a collective sigh of relief. Only seven of the students who had produced suitable reactions were still interested in continuing. The rest had returned to their normal classes today. And seven was a tiny number.

Michelle told us that we were being offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Our places were dependent on participation in the ‘ahead of its time’ research for which we would be paid a small salary. We would receive world-class dance tuition, concentrating on ballet, though there would be contemporary and other classes too.

“Drama?” I asked.

“There will be repertoire coaching,” said Aleks. “Acting is always a big part of it.”

“I could make the most of that,” I said.

Michelle continued on as if we had not spoken, telling us that there would be regular teachers like Aleks and also other guest celebrities. The castle – yes, a real castle – boasted luxurious accommodation, outstanding views, and its own theatre. She made the whole thing sound like an all-expenses-paid, five-star holiday.

“See, I’ve always thought I should live in a castle,” said Justin. “You know what this is? Manifesting!”

Michelle paused beside us as she handed out questionnaires and contracts. “Miss Treadwell. Mr. Bevan. I am particularly interested to know everything you two experienced yesterday. If there’s not room on here, write on the back, or we can make an appointment to speak about it.”

“There’s plenty room,” I said, looking at the two lines for text by that question. I intended to put what Aleks had suggested: ‘I felt pain and something strange that I can no longer remember.’

She moved along to the others as basic input of information held my attention. Name. Address. Date of birth.

“It’s your loss.” Michelle’s clipped accent sliced through the bureaucracy, and I looked up to see Will drop his forms at her feet and walk out.

I crossed the room and picked up the fallen papers. “What happened?” I asked Michelle.

“Mr. Hearst didn’t want to fill in his details now, and I need them this morning. I don’t think we’ll miss him too much,” she said with a laugh in Aleks’s direction. “Have you glanced through this?” Seven student files sat on the piano, the thick one on top the source of her derision.

“You should have read it properly,” I said. “You just humiliated him.”

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