“And 5,6,7,8 glissade, jeté, coupé, coupé, balance, preparation fouetté and finish.” Instructed Miss Dawn, Clara’s ballet teacher. Clara has been training at the Miami City Ballet for 11 years. While training was tough on her average 15 year old, all she ever dreamt of was to be a professional ballerina. Specifically to pursue her career at the New York City Ballet.
“Alright everyone great class you may be dismissed for brake, but Clara please stay behind.”
Clara glanced at her best friend Rebecca, her eyes filled with fear, like a dog during a thunder storm. She approaches her teacher.
“Hello Miss Dawn, you wanted to see me?
“Oh yes, I have an envelope with your name on it from the New York City Ballet, but I didn’t think you would want it, do you?” Dawn jokingly informed Clara
“Are you serious?!” exclaimed Clara. “Thank you so much Miss Dawn.”
Before her teacher could say a word Clara dashed out of the studio and entered her dorm room which she has called her home for 8 years. She ripped open the envelope that held information that can determine her future. The letter had exactly what she was dreaming of her entire life, an audition for the New York City Ballet Company. “Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a prima ballerina just like Missy Copeland.” Clara remembered telling her mother this back home in Akron, Ohio when she was only 7 years old. And to think she is a young girl from a small city, turning 16 and has a chance to audition for one of the best ballet schools in America. Clara was so overjoyed by this information that she nearly forgot about meeting her friend and her older brother Tanner at the ice rink. She raced out of her dorm and drove to the local ice rink. Before she knew it she was on the ground and felt excruciating pain in her right foot. Tanner was the first person to pick her up.
“Clara! Oh my gosh! Are you okay?! Don’t move I’ll go get help! Exclaimed Tanner worriedly trying not to fall himself.
“Okay. Please hurry Tanner ow it hurts so bad!” Clara managed to choke out as she threw her head back in pain.
Tanner took off his skates and picker Clara up trying to soothe her and get the pain off her mind.
“Thank you Tanner, you’re a great brother. Wait I have my audition in 2 weeks! What if I’m not better then?! Tanner what if I can never dance again. I’ve been training for this audition my entire life! Clara cried out in distress.
“Clara I know you will get through this. Who knows this could just be a small pulled muscle and not a single broken bone. Right now let’s not think about your audition and focus on getting your foot checked out.” Tanner consoled his little sister.
Unfortunately Clara’s injury was more than just a small pull. In fact it was a fractured fibula and 4 torn ligaments from her toes to her lower leg. Clara’s foot was swollen and purple just like fresh grapes off the vine. The doctor told her to ice and elevate for about an hour, up to 4 times a day. She was also told to stay off of it as much as possible. Clara broke down in tears and sobbed to her teacher everything that happened. Although Miss Dawn was disappointed with Clara’s foolish decision to go ice skating weeks before her big audition, she tried to console her when she saw how crushed Clara was. Clara could not stop apologizing for her stupid decision.
“Now Clara, the doctor said that you need to ice and elevate so why don’t you sit to the side of class today and help me correct everyone’s movements.” Miss Dawn instructed.
“Okay, again I’m really sorry I didn’t know what I was thinking going ice skating before my big audition.” Clara apologized
“Clara apologizing isn’t going to help you heal better, please just sit and Rebecca could you get your classmate here some ice please?” Miss Dawn asked.
“Yes Miss Dawn.” Rebecca replied
The days had seemed to go by really slow for Clara. She cried every night and had nightmares about never dancing again and how her life would change forever. The hardest part about this entire situation was calling the New York City Ballet and cancelling the audition. Clara tried to fight back the tears when she went back home to see her family for Christmas break. Before she could even walk in the door her mother breathed her name and gave her a back breaking hug.
“Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry we couldn’t be there to help, Your father and I were on a business trip in California for  weeks. We just got a call from Tanner last week. Oh look at you, tall, skinny and muscular body looks so helpless. I’m so sorry this happened.” Gushed her mother Karen.
“Hey mom it’s nice to see you too.” Clara stated with sarcasm lacing her voice. “And this was all my fault I really shouldn’t have gone skating, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
The holiday was rotating around Clara’s injury. One tradition the family had was going horseback riding on Christmas Eve right before mass, but They decided on staying in and making a puzzle and making hot cocoa. Poor Clara felt bad and just wanted her foot to be better so she didn’t have to just sit and watch everyone give her sympathy over this awful event.
Two weeks later Clara’s foot was no longer swollen and she was feeling a lot better. She decided that the only way to slowly get back to her old self was to try and dance. She started in regular ballet shoes and went back to the basics to work out the ligaments that needed to stretch in order for her to dance. She was put down as soon as she started. Clara could barely releve, something that even the 2 and 3 years olds could do. Clara just talked to herself and told herself that all athletes have one major setback, but they always found their way back to their sport. She knew that she would be okay, so she didn’t let this injury get in her way of becoming a professional ballerina.
One year later, Clara is just as famous as Missy Copeland. She is currently 17 years old and training at her dream school, New York City Ballet. Although the audition was taken away from her, the directors of the ballet company decided that she deserves another chance. Clara was honored, the school has never given a second chance to anyone. She has been ever grateful because now she is living her dream and was able to dance again. Clara is now on the Broadway stage and all over the country preforming in the Nutcracker Ballet. Who knows where she’ll be next?