Written by Jasmine Carrillo
Title Dream to dance
By
Jasmine .M. Carrillo
One evening, Ivey decided to stretch before bed to relax after a long day. The next morning, she woke up ready for school. Ivey is a ten-year-old in sixth grade, usually earning B's and C's. She has loved dancing since she was nine months old and practices styles like hip hop, ballet, and jazz. Ivey has a mother named Karina, a father named Jack, and twin four-year-old siblings, Rosy and Casey. Although Ivey's parents are caring and great with kids, they often struggle financially. Karina has cancer, making it tough for Jack to handle the bills while also caring for the children, which limits Ivey's ability to take dance classes and enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle. Ivey always has to sneak in through the back to enter the studio. When she gets there, she often acts snobbish, thinking it’s necessary, even though it really isn't. However, this attitude catches the attention of her teacher, Flor, who consistently helps Ivey with her dancing. Ivey is focused on becoming the best because she knows that when she turns thirteen, she will face competition for a spot at the top dance school. There are two options: DDA and DDB. DDA offers many more opportunities than DDB. Dance classes usually occur daily from 2 PM to 8 PM. Ivey attends classes every weekday from 2 PM to 6 PM, and on weekends from 10 AM to 7 PM. The only person who knows about this besides Ivey is Flor, as Ivey's parents do not know. The next day was Sunday, and Ivey attended her dance class for the usual time. Unfortunately, around two in the afternoon, Ivey's mother passed away. Her illness had been severe but had worsened a lot over the past few days. Ivey soon received a phone call from Jack telling her about her mother's death. This situation impacted everyone. Ivey changed a little and took on more of a motherly role for her youngest sister, but not as much for Casey since Jack was there for him for a couple of months. Ivey also stopped going to dance for a while and struggled in school. She didn't spend time with her friends, especially her best friend Cynthia, since their mom had passed away. Flor was trying to support Ivey more during this time. One day, Jack noticed that Ivey was spending time with a woman named Flor, so he asked a lot of questions about her and how Ivey knew her. Ivey explained that she was just a teacher. Jack suggested that they invite Flor over for dinner, and Ivey agreed. A couple of weeks later, the day arrived when Flor came to their house for dinner with Jack, Ivey, Rosy, and Casey. They all enjoyed their time together. After the kids went to bed, Jack and Flor began talking and drinking, even swapping phone numbers to stay connected, particularly for Ivey. At that time, Ivey was starting to feel a bit better after her mom's situation, and life was beginning to feel more satisfying for her. Two years later, it was time for the Ivey competition. Siblings Rosy and Casey were now seven years old, and Jack and Flor had been dating for a couple of months, though the kids did not know about this. November 10 was an important day for Ivey, as numerous dance schools were involved, but each school could only choose five dancers. However, Flor's dance studio had only three dancers who were genuinely talented. As the event went on, the judges observed the performances, and when it was Ivey's turn, she came onto the stage and remembered the hours she had spent in the dance studio. After a few more dancers had performed, the judges were ready to announce which dancers would represent their schools. The judge at Flor's dance studio announced the names of Alison, Gerchen, Jason, and Richard. When Ivey's name was finally called, she felt an overwhelming joy and cried happy tears. Flor encouraged Ivey to be honest with her dad and to contribute to the school fund since there will always be costs to manage, and she is capable of making those payments. Flor advised Ivey to check with the dance teacher about the possibility of making payments. Flor also suggested a good way for Ivey to earn some money, but Ivey was hesitant. Flor stressed the importance of this opportunity as it connects with Ivey's dreams, and Ivey eventually agreed. Later that day, Ivey talked to her dad about her life, starting from when she began dancing at nine months old up to now. She shared that Flor is actually her dance teacher. Jack asked her why she hadn’t told him this before. Ivey said she knew about their financial problems, especially when her mom was alive, so she wanted to help. She spent more time at the studio and learned about competitions, thinking she could support her family. Jack, her father, insisted he would handle the dance studio payments, but Ivey wanted to help with the finances. Jack agreed to pay the expenses and instructed Ivey to find employment. She reached out to Flor, who told her she could clean rich people's homes and also start a snack business. Ivey agreed to the plan and said she would be ready after school the next day. After school, Ivey met with Flor and worked from 3 PM to 7 PM. She cleaned houses and worked at a snack truck, saving money for her dance school, which cost $1,000. By the start of summer, Ivey had saved $900. She required money for dance costumes, travel expenses, shoes, and school supplies because the place was a combination of a dance school and an academic institution, similar to a college for young people. Jack chose to quit his job at a youth center and started taking online courses to become a realtor. At the same time, Ivey was gathering funds for her school, and Jack decided to support Ivey financially, urging her to enjoy her youth. As summer started and Ivey got ready to move to California for dance school, Jack told her that he was dating Flor and they were planning to live together. Ivey said she was happy for Jack and then headed to the airport to meet her new dance teacher and the other competition winners. Three years later, Ivey is now sixteen, and her younger siblings, who are ten-year-old twins, have started to engage more in various activities. Rosey has started to focus on music, while Casey is looking into acting and directing. Jack and Flor have spent a lot on classes and events for the twins since they were seven. Feeling frustrated with their dad's attention on Ivey, Casey and Rosey wonder why they are not given the same chances. Jack replies that they need to focus on their studies and recommends they share their feelings with Ivey during their upcoming visit. Ivey, now sixteen, has been thriving since she began school. She left her previous job and took a position as an office clerk at a hospital while still attending dance classes. Her school schedule is from 5 AM to 1 PM and includes subjects like English, math, writing, and dance as an elective, along with five extra classes to better prepare students for the future. After school, she works from 3 PM to 5 PM on weekdays, and she is free on weekends. In the past, she spent more time with her family, but now she only visits them on weekends. Her family is coming to support her for an important dance competition where she might make valuable connections for future opportunities. Ivey has always done well in school, and the competition takes place every two years, featuring the best students from each grade. If noticed, they may graduate early; they can also take the GED test to catch up. On September 19, the competition began around 3 PM. The Ivey family arrived in the morning and waited for the show to start. Jair, a freshman, performed first, followed by sophomore Sharon, and then junior Ivey. Ivey showcased challenging routines that impressed the audience. However, during the final steps of her dance, Ivey fell and injured Herself, causing her to cry and requiring immediate hospitalization. Afterward, Julie, a senior, and Sharon won the competition. At the hospital, the doctor informed Flor, Jack, Rosie, and also Casey, that Ivey's injury was severe and could be lifelong. After two months, Ivey was released from the hospital and returned home with her siblings and Jack Flor. Shortly after, Jack and Flor got married. While their lives seemed good, Ivey struggled with depression, crying daily and isolating herself from her family. Over time, she began to walk again. Ivey motivates her siblings, particularly Rosey and Casey, to chase their dreams by engaging in activities like dancing and stretching, and she proposes that Rosey could perform in a video for Casey. Although initially frustrated with Ivey, the twins came to see her guidance as helpful, resulting in a new routine where she taught them. Ivey went back to her previous job and encountered a guy at a bus stop, managing to overcome her initial fear. They swapped numbers, began chatting, and eventually began dating. Ivey felt more joyful, her pain decreased, and she looked forward to dancing again. Ivey persuaded Rosy to join a dance competition, even though Rosy was hesitant at first. Unexpectedly, Rosy won the competition, which made Ivey very proud. Rosy thought that following Ivey's guidance would help her reach her dreams, and Ivey continued to encourage her. Five years later, at 21, Ivey is in a relationship with Ben, who has supported her during her recovery and dancing journey. Ivey has made significant progress in her dancing, started adult classes, and is creating videos on YouTube. After two more years, she decides to marry Ben. Ivey, Rosy, and Casey work together to produce a movie that will be released in theaters. The end
J