I woke up abruptly. Grabbing my phone to check the time, I realised the alarm hadn’t even rung yet. I heaved a sigh of relief.

Has it ever happened that once you wanted to wake up at a specific time, like really bad, and you set the alarm and stuff, fearing that you won’t wake up, and then you end up waking up even before the alarm goes off?

Well, it happens not just to me, but to most people if they really want to wake up at a certain time. Perhaps it is that strong desire and determination that make you rise even before time.

I made my way into the kitchen, but didn’t feel like eating anything. Uh-oh, that tingling in my stomach had started again, my feet were getting sweaty and I was a bundle of nerves.

Today, was the finals of the Dance Competition. Our team of five had me, Brooke, as the lead dancer; then there was Grace, my best friend and Eric, a dance fanatic who is a master in perfecting our choreography; and two talented twins, with such flexibility and grace on the stage that one cannot take their eyes off them.

Every team had a coach, but we did not have one. So when we were looking for one, we found Jackie. She was a cousin of Eric’s and worked in an academy. Then, when we met her, she was like really cool! When she walked, her gait emitted some kind of energy and she was dressed in a funky style. And, to top it off, she had bright strands of purple in her dark hair.

We had found the perfect coach for our team. She was a bit hesitant at first, but quickly agreed when she saw the progress we had made so far. Her face was impassive, but I knew she was impressed.

I quickly chewed on my cornflakes, even though they seemed tasteless. In a rush, I slipped into my sweats and seized my jacket from the hook. In my bag, I quickly stuffed my costume and my best dancing shoes.

Mum came out from the kitchen as she saw me zipping up my bag and before she could say anything, I kissed on her cheek and said goodbye. I saw her saying a prayer of good luck as I headed out.

“Finally, Brooke…” sighed Grace as she hugged me. “I was worried that you were going to be late. Come on now, everybody is getting ready.”

In the dressing rooms, there were so many other contestants preparing for their performance, scurrying here and there. I spotted Jackie fixing the twins’ hair.

Eric came up behind us, all dressed, “Did you guys see the concert hall? It’s huge!”

Grace and I had changed into our costumes and were putting on our shoes when Eric murmured, “Who are they?”

We turned to follow his gaze, amid many people, four gorgeous girls along with a lean boy had just walked in. Their way of walking and their posture had made it clear that they were hoofers.

“They’re top-notch!” cried Grace, “more like ramp-walking models.”

They sure were. The elite aura that hung around them made me quite apprehensive. A peek on the list of competitors told me they were from “Tweekverse”, the most famous dance school in the whole country.

Jackie came up behind us, “Guys, it’s time, come on. Let’s go!”

“Oooh, do you get the vibe?” Grace trilled. I could understand her, I didn’t feel any less thrilled, and my body had gone all jittery.

When we entered the concert hall, my jaw literally just dropped. Eric was right. It was massive. There were so many people. The four judges, who were seated at a large panel, did look very stern.

The competition started, the first performances were brilliant. One team had the neon theme, in which they wore glow-in-the-dark costumes and the whole place was dark. I was mesmerised by their dazzling display. Apparently, everybody was. The judges’ card displayed the score. They were marking out of ten.

The next performance was even better, but for us, it became more competitive. The group from Tweekverse was the best. Their costumes, alluring faces and entrancing performance captivated everyone.

“Whoa!” said Eric beside me, “Dude, they came to win.”

It was our turn next. I felt goose bumps and my hands were shaking. My teammates also seemed very nervous. Jackie was trying to pump us up, but immediately worked out our expressions.

“Hey, it’s going to be alright guys. Don’t forget, it’s not just about following the choreography, you have got to enjoy yourself, move with the beat and dance your heart out,” she encouraged us.

As we went up the stage, I felt a new energy. I held my head high. We were going to show the judges how excellently we can not only dance, but also make the audience connect and feel with us. That determination and courage made me and our team ace the competition.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the 9.5 on the card in judges’ hands. It was the highest mark yet, and ours was the last performance. The crowd was bowled over by us. As we were bowing in response to the standing ovation we received, I glimpsed sideways and saw a beaming Jackie cheering with the audience.

Soon a party started in the dressing room. As we were enjoying the pizzas and the drinks, we saw one by one all our rivals coming in to meet us. I could detect a note of disappointment in their “Congrats”. However, that was not what caused me to grin, it was just my elation at how we outshone them with our performance.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 19th, 2022