The audience chatters quietly,

and my stomach churns.

A bead of sweat forms

on my nervous face,

sparkling in the light.

All I can think of is

the hours and hours of exhausting practice,

all leading to this one moment.

We are prepared,

yet my body shakes and I feel so anxious.

After this, it will all be done,

the season will be complete.

It all comes down to this.

We all give hugs and wish each other good luck.

Under all the glamour of the

makeup and dazzling uniforms,

we are all terrified.

We are not scared of losing,

we are scared that all of our practice,

all of our hard work,

still won’t be enough.

We are scared that when the lights shine bright,

and the faces turn to us,

we will crumble under the pressure.

I clamp my eyes shut.

The announcer blares our introduction;

I gulp and we rush on the floor.

As soon as the beaming lights hit my face,

and the cheers fill the air,

my face curls into a huge smile.

As our music begins,

my fears flutter away.

The performance