Six Hours of Dance…and Laziness
The first competition of the season is just a week away. Long Island Dance Force, a dance studio in Copiague, New York, has never been busier. All of the dancers must come together for one final practice, to put the finishing touches on their soon to be award-winning routines. From the outside, the studio looks just like any other storefront on a Saturday morning, not too busy and very serene. Next to the door, there are big windows stretched across the front of the gray, one story building, that display festive pumpkins, bats, and autumn colored leaves. A long sign mounted above it reads, “Long Island Dance Force…Where every child’s a star!” The next building over is white with two stories and two large windows. One set of windows has a sign displaying guitar lessons, but the other has no sign and is covered by blinds. There is door that is also covered by blinds that reads “Long Island Dance Force *use other entrance*.”
Through this “other entrance” lies what seems to be a completely different studio. Three walls of the lobby are completely covered from floor to ceiling by rows of trophies, plaques, ribbons, and certificates. The other wall is the windowed store front. There is a long wooden bench stretching the length of the wall, which is covered with bags, jackets, tap shoes, bags of chips, books, and children. Frantic mothers wait in line at the merchandise counter against the far wall, trying to make sure their “little star” has the best Long Island Dance Force gear to wear around at the competition. The counter is covered in boxes of Capezio tights in suntan, the newest pink sweat set, and pieces of red, black, and leopard costumes. “What size are you in pants? God damnit Alexa! We don’t have time for this, you’re thirteen, you should know!” But parents aren’t the only ones with their tensions running high. Next to the merchandise counter is a reception desk…but there is no receptionist. Instead, Marcy, the owner...