Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight Page #5

I can't even think of

anything else I'd rather do.

Okay, I'm finally done.

You guys ready to go?

Yeah.

Okay, let's go. All right.

RENATA:
But, Mom, you've

already canceled on me twice!

You never cancel on Ben.

(SOBBING)

Well, I just wanted to do

something special with you guys.

That's what you

said last time.

Okay, yes, I understand.

I'll just stay inside with

Mr. Kosloff until you get here.

Sweetie, why don't you go ask

Renata if she needs a ride home?

Go on. It'll be all right.

Okay.

I'll watch your stuff.

What is it?

Well, if you're going to have to wait

here awhile, my mom can give you a ride.

I don't need a ride or

anything else from you.

Geez, I was just

trying to be nice.

Well, maybe you should

stop trying to be nice

and start trying to dance

the snowflake dance better.

Or you might just find yourself

getting kicked out of The Nutcracker.

Oh, yeah? Well, I have

the choreography down now.

Jackie helped me. So I'm

going to be just fine.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

Sweetie, at least you tried.

She must be having a bad day.

Whoa. I can't believe we're

rehearsing on a real stage.

It's so big.

I know.

MR. KOSLOFF:
Snowflakes! Let's

take it from the arabesque.

I got it.

Five, six, seven, eight.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Isabelle, beautiful.

Thank you.

Okay. Everyone, take a break, please.

Thank you.

You know...

You know, the dancers

have mastered the moves,

but there's something off

about that snowflake dance.

The steps seem flat.

In all honesty, I wish I could

change the choreography,

you know, give them

that showcase moment,

but I don't think I can do that to the

kids this close to opening night.

Excuse me, Mr. Kosloff.

Yes?

Don't worry about us!

Everyone's got

the dance down now.

You could even add

some tougher steps.

Really?

Maybe a few more

pirouettes or something.

We may be kids,

but we can handle new steps.

We're professional

dancers now.

Yes, you are.

Well, in that case, maybe I will put in

something a little bit more challenging.

Hmm.

(CHUCKLES)

Let's go into the rehearsal

studio and have another listen.

(CHUCKLES)

LEO:
Look at you go.

Use those little ballerina muscles, huh?

(LAUGHING)

Look at how these turned out.

Frosting.

Is there any cookie

under there, Dad?

(ALL LAUGHING)

Girls...

Ah...

...your mother and I have a special

little something for you...

Mmm-hmm.

...to celebrate

our two ballerinas

dancing in their first

professional production.

Go on, go on, open it.

Yes!

Whoa!

It's a real nutcracker!

Thank you.

This is so cool.

"Hello. My name

is Mr. Nutcracker."

(ALL LAUGHING)

You are so weird.

Hey!

Maybe I should bring this to

school and show my friends.

Yeah, that's a great idea.

Speaking of which,

how was school this week?

Well, I got an A on

my science project.

That's nothing new.

And since I got to

dance with Jackie,

things have been so much

better at rehearsals!

That's great, kiddo.

(LAUGHING)

Thanks.

I could have gotten a C.

NANCY:
What's that, honey?

Nothing.

Isabelle, we are so

proud of you, honey.

Oh, my gosh!

So tell me what happened.

How did rehearsal

turn around like that?

ISABELLE:
Well, since I was having

problems with the turning section,

she went over it with me...

...seven, eight.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Look, this is the moment

that Clara finds out that

she's been shrunk to the size

of her beloved nutcracker.

It's got to feel fluid and

graceful and dream-like.

Go again, please.

No! You don't get to make

mistakes like that, Jade.

You're one of the leads of this show.

I expect more from you.

I'll get it.

Good.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Yes! That's my star! Okay, remember

that feeling. Practice it.

All right. Moving on.

Could I have my snowflakes?

Anybody playing snowflakes,

gather around, please. Thank you.

Okay, listen. I'm terribly

sorry to have to do this,

especially as it's only two

weeks from opening night.

However, I need to change

the choreography.

What we were doing

was just not working.

Now, don't worry, ladies.

I know you'll get it.

After all, you are

professional dancers now, yes?

So, it is a turning sequence.

Please.

And here it is, okay?

Five, six, seven, eight.

Pique, pique, chaTn, chaTn,

ending in a double pirouette.

There you go. Very nice.

Thank you.

All right, we'll be back here in

five minutes to start working on it.

Off you go!

(sums)

(CHUCKLES)

What is it?

I don't know what

I'm going to do.

I just got the old

choreography down.

Just use your

visualization again.

I've seen you land lots

of doubles before.

You did a bunch of

them at Uncle Davi's.

That was in a backyard!

It's different now!

It's not any different.

This is all in your head.

But now with the pique and

chaTn turns leading up to it,

I don't know if I'll be able

to land the double pirouette.

I'm worried that I'm going to be

so worried that I'll mess up!

That's a lot of worrying.

You'll be fine.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Ugh!

(GIRLS GIGGLING)

JACKIE:
Coming downstage will

make my entrance more dramatic.

Well, sometimes a change-up can help.

Exactly.

Like the new snowflake

choreography.

It really seems to be working.

Hmm.

The kids are nailing it.

Sofia's arabesque is higher. And

Julia's sissonnes are much sharper.

Yeah. And have

you seen Renata?

If she keeps landing

doubles like that,

she might just get the fourth

grade spot in the summer program.

But unfortunately,

not everyone is nailing

the new choreography.

You mean Isabelle?

Yeah.

It's such a shame because her

dancing is so wonderful to watch.

When she's confident

with what she's doing,

no one outshines her.

And yet she's struggling.

She really needs to master

the new turning sequence.

Everyone else

has got it.

And if she can't, I might have to

consider cutting her from the number.

JACKIE:
But she's working hard.

She'll get it. Give her time.

MR. KOSLOFF:
Yeah,

but we don't have time.

And it's my responsibility to

do what's best for the show.

JACKIE:
I know. You're right.

Sweetie, hey, it's getting

kind of late. I know.

But I have regular homework to

do on top of everything else.

Well, I think it's great that

you're keeping up with all of it.

And I love all the design work you've

done on The Nutcracker costumes.

Now, you need to go to

bed soon, though, okay?

Okay.

Okay.

You know, sometimes sleeping on

it helps a lot with our worries.

Okay. Thanks, Mom.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

(WHIMPERS)

(WHIMPERS)

RENATA:
Come on,

Isabelle, keep up!

(SCREAMS)

Stop!

(CLOCK TICKING)

(sums)

(BELL RINGING)

ISABELLE:
I had this crazy nightmare

about the show last night.

Jade was in it, and Renata was

dressed as the Mouse King,

and she was coming

after me and...

LUISA:
Isabelle!

Don't get so worked up!

It was a dream.

In Brazil, we have

an expression about dreams.

(SPEAKING PORTUGUESE)

What does it mean?

They're not real.

(BOTH LAUGH)

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