Aurelia was a prodigy of many talents. After taking a break, she has now appeared back in the limelight with an invite to ALDC for the TV show Dance Moms.
Aurelia, having grown up in a family surrounded by fame and not of humble beginnings, thought...
I dress in a white diamond gemstone (fake gems obviously) dance top and plain silk dance shorts.
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As I get in the car I start to regret my decision of agreeing. My mother goes over the plan with me.
"Okay, so when we get there we won't be doing homeschooling at all today because we will be too busy. The producers will give you an hour to get ready and then they will take you through to be interviewed. They will ask you lots of questions about your past and dancing and be as honest as you can. Then the producers will run you through what will happen during pyramid. Got that!"
I nod my head and start reading one of the new books I bought from the airport yesterday.
*
When we finally arrive I am greeted at the door by a woman I know as Miss Abby, or Abby as everyone seems to call her.
"Hello Aurelia Ellery and your mother Idella Ellery. Welcome to my studio, it's such an honour for you to come and I hope we can work together in the future." To me it all sounds a bit rehearsed but I say thanks and follow her in. They do my hair and makeup and then I go into the interviewing room.
"Hello, I'm the producer of Lifetime. Now, we are going to ask you some questions and you'll answer them, making sure to look at the camera. Is that okay?" I nod and he starts.
"Please introduce yourself."
"Hi, I'm Aurelia Ellery," I start confidently - I'm used to talking to a camera. "I'm twelve years old and I live here in Los Angeles, although the last studio I was at was in Ohio."
"Have you won any national titles? Have you ever beaten or been beaten by Maddie Ziegler?"
I know they know the answers, because they're the ones who haven't aired all the competitions I beat Maddie in.
"Well, I started dance when I was three, which is generally a year later than most dancers, and started competitive dance when I was four. My first national title I went for was in tap when I was five years old and I won it. Of the six years I've been competing, I've only come second twice in nationals and that was to Maddie Ziegler. I have won pretty much every competition I've danced in except for a few and won national titles in all styles except hip hop."
I smile at the camera and the producer looks pleased. "Okay," he says expectantly. "Now we are going to ask whether you're excited to be on the show please answer in present tense."
"If I'm completely honest," I touch my hair for comfort, an old habit of mine I've never broken out of. "I didn't really know about ALDC before a few days ago." It was only a slight exaggeration. "But I did some research and when I found out I was going to be on Dance Moms I was bewildered. I'm so honoured to be here and called in especially by Abby - I finally get to be like my brothers! However, my only concern is that I hope my mother doesn't go too crazy because like a few of the mothers here are a bit melodramatic if you get what I mean." I chuckle awkwardly at the camera.
