Free Let the Dance Begin by Lynda Waterhouse Page B

am not convinced that you are ready, but we shall see.
Make your way in single file to the swimming pool at once, and without any talking.’
    Intrigued, the sand sprites walked as fast as they dared out of the practice room and through the back corridor that led to the outdoor swimming pool. The pool was wedged between two sides of
the dunes and was lined with rocks and fringed by grasses and gorse bushes.
    Miss Youngsand Snr was waiting for them by the swimming pool. Her tiny body was almost hidden by the row of gorse bushes by the side of the pool.
    ‘Maybe we’re going to do the class underwater.’ Shell nudged Lexie.
    ‘Shh,’ Calluna said as she walked past them.
    ‘Follow me.’ Miss Youngsand Snr pointed to an old stone staircase behind a large bush.
    ‘I’ve never noticed that before,’ Cassie whispered to Lexie. ‘This is exciting.’
    ‘Careful on the stairs! They’re old and slippery’ Miss Youngsand Snr warned as they all filed down. The stairs wound down and led to a small grotto.
    ‘It’s beautiful,’ Lexie gasped. The walls were covered in shells and coloured glass that twinkled in the pale shafts of light. In the middle of the room there was a green shell
fountain with a small white shell in the centre of it. Thassalinus was standing next to it.
    ‘The perfect place for me.’ Shell’s eyes twinkled as she spun around, touching the smooth walls.
    ‘Welcome to our outdoor dance studio,’ Madame Rosa greeted them as they walked into the grotto. She was wearing a pearl-coloured dress and her arms were decorated with shell
bracelets. ‘It is time for your first interpretation class. A sand dancer should be always in touch with her feelings and sensitive to the emotions of those around her. This allows her to
interpret these emotions in her dancing.’
    The sand sprites gathered around excitedly.
    Madame Rosa lifted her arms, making her bracelets shake. ‘I will demonstrate a dance inspired by my love of the dunes to the accompaniment of the fountain.’ She nodded to Thassalinus
who began to turn the handle on the white shell.
    The room fell silent as the water flowing through the shell made a gentle bubbling sound. Madame Rosa began to dance, slowly at first, and then building into a sequence of moves so light and
delicate that even her wings began to flutter gracefully. It was the most beautiful dancing Cassie had ever seen. No one moved or spoke during the dance – everyone’s eyes were fixed on Madame
Rosa. Finally she stopped and there was a spontaneous round of applause. ‘Now I want you all to have a go,’ she said.
    As the other sprites began to move, Cassie felt selfconscious. But then she began to focus on the sounds of the fountain, the trickling and splashing of the water, and her feelings began to take
the lead. She found her- self recalling once again the Night of the Great Sandstorm and the last time she saw her mother.
    It had seemed just like any other night.
    Her mother tucked her up warm and snug in her kutch.
Marina stroked her hair and said, ‘I have to go away.’
    Her mother used to go away sometimes to perform dune dances, so Cassie was not too surprised.
    ‘Are you going to do the Triple Silica Jump again?’ she asked drowsily.
    Marina sighed. ‘I can’t tell you where I’m going or for exactly how long, but I will be back by the next spring tide.’
    Cassie yawned. ‘That is a long time. Will you bring me back a present?’
    Her mother always brought her the most wonderful presents from her travels: scarves and dresses and delicious-tasting sweets.
    Marina laughed and gave her a big hug. ‘I will bring you back the finest pair of dance slippers and then I will teach you some of the exercises that will turn you into the finest dancer
that has ever been.’
    ‘So that we can dance together?’ Cassie asked.
    ‘So we can dance together.’ Her mother gave her another tight squeeze and said, ‘Never forget who you are and what you can