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Big Change... Is Coming

April 12, 2007

Jaclyn moved through the movement of her Juliet variation with air under her arms and feet. Her technique was consistent and reliable, so her upper body could properly emote the excitement and joy Juliet felt dancing around the ballroom. The white and gold embellished dress she wore was just the cherry on top for storytelling, and Mary, the head costume designer seemed very pleased with the final product.

Thomas was off to the side of the studio, sinking into a deep plié stretch to keep his ligaments warm. He watched with a gentle grin as Jaclyn hit each extension with her foot arching up over her head.

"C'est un miracle qu'elle puisse encore bouger..." (It's a miracle she can still move) Gillian mumbled from where she paced the front of the room. Thomas couldn't understand, he hadn't needed French since his last exam third year, but Jaclyn flinched the slightest bit as she bourréed to the back.

Turning around to face the front again her face was all smiles, youthful energy shining through in her expression. Unlike the rest of the company who were awed by every thing Jaclyn did, Gillian turned to Mary and started discussing the dress presumably, ignoring Jaclyn's performance completely.

"She's amazing!" one of the younger White Lodge girls sighed. There was a group of them waiting off to the side of the studio to run their part in the party scene.

Jaclyn did a grand renversé, her foot nearly colliding with the back of her head as she bent sideways on pointe. "Did you see that?" Another whispered, hands coming up to cover her mouth, "No one does that like her."

He chuckled, pulling his puffer vest over his long sleeved leotard, as he cast another glance over the little girls who were sprawled across the floor. Their eyes were wide and excited, tracing each step she did, and biting their lips anticipating each one as well. He also noticed all of them had aspects of Jaclyn to their appearance. Whether it was the side parted low bun, high waisted skirt (a trend she brought back from France), or the high neck leos they wore.

She had a miniature fan club right under her nose, and she probably didn't even know it.

"My parents got balcony seats. After our dance is done, I'm going to join them, and we're going to throw flowers for her."

"Do you think one day we'll be like her?"

"I hope so."

Thomas turned back to the dance catching Jaclyn hanging in the air with each arabesque. It was like she manipulated the music, extending her movement to reach each possible accent or beat.

Gillian was still grunting out insults in French, and it took all his willpower to stay still. He watched Jaclyn's fingers twitch, but her acting never fell. She stayed completely in the dance even as Gillian pulled her double, Marleigh Whitmore, up to the front.

Marleigh was a second year soloist, from the class under them. She was a stick with no dimension to her structure, and whenever he saw her he honestly grew more concerned for her health. Even though she had always been like that, a sign of her body's high metabolism possibly. Unlike Jaclyn she was a turner. She could nail triples and quads, and balance like nobody's business, whereas Jaclyn had consistent clean doubles and focused more on her extensions and grand allegro steps.

Gillian clearly favored Marliegh, but Thomas couldn't understand why. Jaclyn was a dancer in every sense of the word. She reinvented movement as she danced, and everything she did looked strong. She jumped higher, her positions were held, and it spoke well of her character.

She struck her final pose, taking a moment for the music to swell and end before she turned to Gillian who was still talking to Marliegh. "J'espère que vous connaissez madame, (I hope you know Madam, I speak French)" Jaclyn said, her words calm, but her jaw clenched. "I'm actually quite fluent."