“Don’t give the enemies ideas!” Delancey had chastised her earlier. Elincia paid her no mind, clearly.
She watches like a hawk as Ingrid, Merric and Shez go through the choreography. No matter her warnings, Merric and Shez were her friends. Her students. They were more her people than Delancey could hope to be. Elincia would help them with whatever she could, as both a dear friend and their teacher.
Even if it felt like pulling teeth.
Merric wasn’t a bad dancer per se, although he lacked his own flair and groove. His movements were so focussed on being correct that they lacked individuality. A chance to show his personality on stage. Perhaps he was just trying to master the choreography before trying to add his own take, they could discuss ideas after. How and where to add dynamics, facial expressions, things to take his dancing from fine to great. Although that would clearly have to wait.
Ingrid and Shez kept colliding with one another, both of them getting the direction wrong in different sections. With limbs failing, Shez lacked any sort of tension or power in his movements and seemed to rush his way through the choreography. On the other hand, Ingrid was as stiff as a board. Her moves were restrained, jerky and slow. A far cry from her grace upon a pegasus, lance in hand. Elincia knew both of them could move well, had seen it with her own eyes. With a weapon in hand the pair were both fluid and controlled. However, with music in the background. They seemed to lose all sense of co-ordination entirely. She had to put a stop to this before someone was hurt.
“Okay, okay stop!” Elincia shouts, stepping forward and turning the music player on the kiwi phone off. “I’m going to need all three of you to separate, to start with. Merric, you’re fine. Room for improvement but you’re doing well enough. I’d like you to run through the choreo again but think a little less.”
The trio quieted and she took a moment to shoot Merric a reassuring smile. He was doing well, he could just do with being a little less calculated. The odd mistake was a worthwhile trade off for a more energetic and personal performance. So long as he didn’t degenerate to the level of his classmates.
“Don’t be scared about making little mistakes, you have this down. Try it with a little more bounce or charm - whatever feels comfortable for you. Dancing isn’t just about movement, it’s about personal expression!” Her shoulders drop as she faces Ingrid and Shez. If they could manage the movements it would be a small miracle. Elincia wasn’t going to give up on them though. Who knows what would happen if one of them was voted off? Would they simply cease to be in this tale? “On the other hand, you two need to get that down first. Then we can build up. You have opposite issues. Ingrid, you’re so stiff it looks like moving is painful for you. Shez, points for enthusiasm but your limbs are all over them. I know you’ve developed muscle control from your training but you need to apply it.”
“Let’s see, shall I go through the first count or two and then let you two have ago? Try to copy me and then I’ll give you some tips and personal help?”
Flicking the music app on her kiwi Phone, Elincia starts playing the music and stands still through the first few beats to create tension. Then she takes herself through the steps, trying not to overcomplicate it. A simple step back on her left foot then swinging the right out. An arc of her right arm as she brings her legs together, bending her knees and waving her hand through four more beats, until her arm was fully extended. Then she turned to her allies.
“Okay, now it’s your turn. Merric, just give me a shout if you need any help.” He was such a gentleman though, would he really feel comfortable interrupting them? Possibly not, she’d have to adjust her teaching methods to include him. It would be easier to keep track of all three of them if they were easily in her field of view, too. “Actually, come over here. You have this polished. Show them how you do it - I want them at your level by the end of today.”
“You’re doing really well, I think what you’re doing is perfectly fine. I do think you have the potential to really shine though, so please forgive me if I push you a little.”
As beautiful as they are, she hopes Ingrid and Shez have some other skills to make their mark in this competition. It looked like dancing was going to be an uphill battle.
@damegalantea, @zesevral or @windsheedme
