All the saliva in my mouth instantly dries as he utters my name. “Yes,” my voice wobbles as I answer, “this is Ivy.”
“Hi, Ivy, this is Carter Moliter from the Cincinnati Ballet.” When I don’t immediately respond, he continues, “I’m calling in regards to the audition that took place on Saturday.”
Oh god. This is it. This is really it! A shiver of apprehension slides down my spine making the skin on my arms prickle with gooseflesh. My entire future rests on this moment. On his next few words.
Instead of sounding strong and confident, my voice comes out sounding all breathy and whispery. “Yes?”
“As you know, we have two spots to fill for on pointe dancers in the corps de ballet. And there were a little more than two hundred dancers who auditioned with us.”
Something in my belly clenches at his words. Maybe he isn’t calling with good news after all. I mean, is it really possible that I was chosen from over two hundred other dancers?
“The judges were all incredibly impressed with the sheer volume of talent that showed up. We really couldn’t have asked for a better pool of candidates to choose from. After watching all of the auditions and reviewing the video, we were able to narrow the field down to twelve dancers who we felt would be wonderful additions to the company.”
Yep. This is bad. Maybe I’m talented… but not talented enough to compete for a spot with the Cincinnati Ballet. With my knees suddenly feeling weak, I fall back onto the couch.
Clearing my throat, I finally say, “All of the dancers were immensely talented. It was an honor and privilege just to audition for the Cincinnati Ballet.” It’s a struggle to keep my voice light even though there is so much disappointment trapped within my chest. But the words are absolutely true. The talent that showed up for the audition on Saturday blew me away.
“As I’m sure you’re aware of, The CBC prides itself on the outstanding quality of its dancers and choreographers. We can only invite the most talented individuals to join us.”
“Of course.” And I, apparently, am not one of the most talented. God… this hurts even more than I imagined it would.
I’ve spent years auditioning for spots. I’ve had to audition for every dance team I ever belonged to as well as Barnett and a few other colleges I was considering. Not to mention the Conservatoire. I had to put together a video and be critiqued by my instructors. So, I’m used to the process. And I realize it’s not going to work out in my favor every single time. They could have been looking for something specific. Taller. Shorter. Blonde. Brunette. You just never know…
But the Cincinnati Ballet...
This was the first real audition for a professional gig I’ve ever been on.
And I didn’t get it.
“Congratulations, Ivy, you were selected from over two hundred outstanding candidates for one of our positions. I hope you realize what a great honor this is.”
His words take me completely by surprise. “What?” I’m barely able to whisper the word. “You’re saying,” I have to gulp down all the thick emotion clawing its way into my throat, “you’re saying I’ve been selected to dance for the Cincinnati Ballet?”
My mind is literally spinning. I was so sure he was trying to let me down easy.
The man on the other end chuckles. “Yes, you have. The judges were all very impressed. You’re a very talented young woman.”
“I-I can’t believe this.” The hot sting of tears pricks the back of my eyes as I hold the phone to my ear.
The only thing that could possibly make this moment any better is if my mom was here to celebrate this achievement with me. She loved dance so much. It was because of her, that I even started taking ballet classes in the first place.
“Thank you Mr. Moliter. Thank you so much!” I still can’t believe this is really happening to me.
“You’re welcome, Ivy. Now, when can you be here in Cincinnati?”
Taking a deep breath, everything swirls around in my brain. I can barely think straight.
Shaking my head to clear it, I ask, “When do I need to be there?”
“The sooner, the better. I’m not going to lie, the first couple months are going to be grueling. You’ll have to learn all new choreography. It’ll be long hours spent in the studio.” He sounds like he’s shuffling through some papers before he finally says, “I see you’re attending college right now.” There’s a slight pause. “Is this going to be a problem for you?”
Even though he can’t see me, I shake my head. “No. I just need to speak with my professors and the school to see if there’s any way for me to still get credit for the classes I’m currently enrolled in.”