really had to get past that today, though. She was about to participate in her first audition since getting injured. She’d been reviewing the work of the ballet’s choreographer for weeks, knowing that one of the cardinal sins of auditioning was not picking up on the choreography quickly enough. She had also stepped up her workout routines and spent relentless hours on her form. A couple of sessions with Dr. Smythe to work through her mental blocks had helped too.
Ready or not, today was the day. She was even then stretching in a room full of other hopeful dancers. There was an atmosphere in the room unlike what she’d experienced while a student. Everyone looked calm, professional, and confident. Though Jasmine tried to convey the same, her self-doubt threatened to creep in.
“It’s nerve-wracking, isn’t it?” asked the dancer stretching beside her.
The accent told Jasmine her fellow dancer was likely from India. One look at her features confirmed it. She had dark hair and eyes, a pretty oval face, and a clear olive complexion. She stood a couple inches shorter than Jasmine, putting her at around five-three. Her turquoise halter-style leotard was a standout in the room. When she smiled, it looked warm and genuine.
“It sure is,” Jasmine replied.
It was a relief to say it out loud to someone who understood.
“My name’s Alima.”
Nodding at Alima from her bent position, she said, “Jasmine.”
“What a beautiful name.”
“Thanks. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. Have you been out of the audition circuit for a while?”
That had Jasmine straightening. “How did you know?”
“I haven’t seen you around. I’ve been auditioning all over the city for more than a year. And since you’re not a teenager, it was either you took a break or you just moved here.”
“Oh.” At least it hadn’t been something more noticeable, like her form during her stretches, that had tipped the other dancer off. “It was a break, actually. ACL surgery.”
Alima winced. “I’m sorry to hear it. I took a break prior to all these auditions because of back spasms. The first audition after coming back was a real struggle for me.”
Jasmine might have thought the other dancer was trying to get in her head, but her demeanor and her tone both radiated sincerity. She chose to take the commiseration at face value.
“It’s no picnic, I’ll give you that,” she said.
“It will be all right,” Alima said in her lyrical, precise way of speaking. “Just remember that we all have equal chances here. It’s about what you show them now. None of what happened since your injury will matter.”
“Thanks. That helps.”
“Good.” Easing out of her last stretch, Alima said, “You know, there’s a group of us who get together once or twice a month. Others like us who have gone through physical challenges and are forging their way back onto the stage. We just work out together, maybe dance if we feel like it. And there’s usually a lot of gossiping and wine drinking. You should come out and join us some time.”
The offer was so kind that Jasmine didn’t want to be rude and say no. “That sounds fun.”
She took Alima’s contact information and thanked her moments before her group was called for the next round of auditions.
“Thanks again,” she told Alima. “Break a leg.”
“You too.”
The audition was split into three segments: barre work, center floor work, and an interview. At each stage, cuts would be made. As Jasmine made her way into the audition space with her group, she put every other thought from her mind.
This was her chance. She had to give it her all.
Her barre work was flawless. She was one of ten dancers in her group to move onto the next round of center floor work. Her combinations went well enough that she was invited to participate in the in-person interview. She wondered if the three people conducting the interview saw her heart hammering in her chest. It was thumping so hard she had to take several deep breaths to get it to calm down.
“As you are aware, Ms. Li, we’re looking to welcome three of you into our company,” said the one male of the trio. “Tell us why you’re that dancer.”
All in all, the questions were pretty standard, and all within the realm of those she’d practiced with May’s help. She felt she did well until they asked her to talk about her outside interests. Only two things popped into her head: her private lessons with Katie and her work at Steamy Beans.