Juilliard School
Still the same day....
Solána
"Class is dismissed, make sure you read the pages on the board, we'll have a class discussion on them tomorrow." Mr. Flint said, turning around writing on the board, with his back turned to the class.
I rolled my eyes, swinging my bag over my shoulder, relieved that the class was finally over. Music Theory was extremely boring, yet informative.
It would be helpful knowing the rules and basic concepts of music, if I wanted to pursue music in the future. I just hated how empty and draining the class was.
I still was passing with a B+ average. So I'm not complaining.
Students filed out the classroom little by little as I followed behind. Once I made it to the door Tony and Nyema were waiting for me. Like always.
Our dance class was together, so we always met up, and walked together with each other. Rayne was here on an art major, so she didn't have any classes with us.
But we all had the same lunch, and would walk to a restaurant close to the school, and catch up.
" Damn, it took you long enough." Nyema looked up from her rose gold IPhone, sucking her teeth, before resuming whatever she was doing.
She stayed with an attitude, as if her period was year round. Like sis, cheer up.
She was still my bitch though, she always looked out for me and was ready to pop off whenever a person had a problem with us.
It's just her attitude at times. " Ok...whatever let's go, negative Nancy." I retorted. She glared at me with her eyes slanted.
"Yo you corny as shit," she said as her mean expression turned into a wide grin. Tony paid us no mind as she was swooning over guys in the hall.
Typical Tony. The girl was boy crazy. Yet she was always getting played by these niggas,because she lowered her standards for them.
Tony was a beautiful and intelligent girl, a lot of guys were not worthy of her, she just needed to realize that for herself.
We reached the dance class and walked into the spacious room. It had hardwood floors that were so shiny you could see your reflection on them.
At the front of the class, sat a large mirror , with a bar, to stretch and warm up on. Just like every other cliché dance room.
In the corner of the room there was a large speaker that played any music we practiced routines to. By it ,there was a small dressing room where students changed into dance attire.
The three of us scrambled to the dressing room together. We usually just changed as a group to save time.
I turned on the light in the small room, and began to undress. I admired my body in the mirror as I put my hair in a bun.
My breast sat up in my sports bra, as my boy shorts clung to my butt. I didn't have a booty like Nicki, but it was more than enough to hold on to.
My thick thighs, and flat stomach proportioned everything out giving me a slim thick figure. I did a little dance in the mirror, sticking my tongue out.
I was interrupted with loud knocking on the door, scaring the hell out of me. " Would you guys hurry up there's other people that have to change." A snobby female voice said on the other side of the door.
Nyema opened her mouth to say something I knew would be rude, I cut her off before she could.
"Uhh...just a sec, sorry." We all finished putting on our clothes, making our way out.
A blonde , who I'm guessing was the one talking to us, glared at us with her arms crossed, before pushing past us rudely.
" Watch it , bi-," I muffled Tony's mouth before she could say anything else. Why risk getting in trouble over something so irrelevant ?
"Chill, she ain't no one. Don't get yourself in trouble because of her , you know how Ms. Valentin is..."
We all shivered at the thought of our dance teacher. She was a strict teacher who didn't tolerate bull, her class was known for the most discipline.
She was all about respect and if she wasn't earning it someone would pay....
I think she was so mean because of how she looked. She was white and always had a tight, neat bun at the back of her head and her figure was curve-less. She looked like a pre-pubescent white teen. Her physical characteristics matched perfectly with her witch attitude.
I stretched my right arm as far as it could go, bending my head back. I hoisted my left leg up on the bar, relieving tension in my body. I did the same with the other side.
"Places everyone," Ms. Valentin's voiced boomed as she entered the room. She was dressed in a leotard and tights, with her neat bun, as usual. Her face was of no expression as she sauntered in with her cane, in tow.
We all scurried in the middle of the floor, to our designated spots. We lined up in three rows, and in alphabetical order. She made everything precise.
She walked around, surveying us, and making comments on little things. " Straighten up your posture." " Stop smiling, does this look like Disney World?"
" Why are you so stiff, this isn't an audition for Shrek." She threw out countless remarks as she went down each row.
My breath hitched in my throat as she reached mine. She scrutinized each one of us, and eventually passed me. I let out the large breath I had been holding.
" Solána, you and that hair of yours. How many times have I told you it needs to be tamed? It should be in a neat ponytail or bun. Or else it will get in the way of dancing, and serve as a distraction. Fix it."
She huffed
Fuck her, she can kiss my ass. I felt like my hair was fine like it was. It had never got in the way of me dancing.
I bit the side of my cheek. "Yes ma'am" I said as I put it in a tighter ponytail.
" Ok...let's begin!"
* * * * *
" 1...2...3...and four" Ms. Valentin repeated keeping time with the music. I looked at myself in the mirror as the class and myself all moved to the complicated dance routine.
My mind and my body were in two different places. I started to get a little sloppy as the song was coming to an end.
"SOLÁNA get it together" The teacher snapped at me quickly and firmly.
I regained focus , finishing up in an appropriate manner.
"I hope all of you are eating healthy, it's vital to you being a sufficient dancer. We also have a show in two weeks, prepare for that. See me to sign up for solos" She says looking at us all. She mostly eyed the curvier girls when she talked about eating healthy, me included.
I roll my eyes, Was it my fault that I had curves on me? But maybe the many burgers and fries that I consumed was a problem.
"Class dismissed, have a nice day ladies and gents, work on your foot work in your spare time" She says and all of use collect our bags and I change back into my boots not caring about my comfortable attire.
I walked out the class after saying bye to Tee and Nema. I begin walking to music class, which was across the campus.
It was my fave, since it was a singing class. We practiced a lot of techniques, and always had mini performances. The class was mad chill, and everyone was supportive and non judgmental.
Yet, I was shy. I loved singing but I hated performing. That probably doesn't make sense but it's true. I was very insecure, yet I realized my potential. Or at least I think I do.
I feel like confidence came with age, and maybe I had some growing up to do before I embraced my talent.
It's crazy how on the exterior I seem like this person who is full of confidence, maybe even conceited. But really, I was insecure like everyone else.
Yet no one understood that. Everyone just thinks I'm this attractive and popular girl who reeks confidence when I'm not. I struggle like everyone else. I'm a normal person. Not a God.
I don't even let it be known how I feel anymore, everyone just brushes it off, so why not play into this facade of having it together?
I made it to my music class where my favorite professor, Mrs. Green, had the class set up different, again.
Professor Green was a young professor who had wild natural hair ,and wore bright makeup with even brighter clothes . Very colorful and vibrant.
Her personality was no different, she was this big ball of energy, that was overwhelming sometimes for people. But not for me. I loved it. She channeled my inner energy and rainbows.
I sat in a random seat, since we didn't have assigned ones. After a couple minutes the bell rings, signifying the start of class.
"Good morning class, how are you guys?",She gives us all a warm smile before beginning her lesson on the science of vocal cords and how to keep them healthy.
I wrote notes and small snippets of songs that my mind randomly created throughout the class period, barely paying attention to the lesson.
Music to me was a way to express the emotions I felt, it made me face my emotions head on. Especially since I had a lot of internal things I could never express.
I always kept my true emotions in , since no one cares enough to listen, and validate them. I have friends, and we love each other deeply.
They just couldn't relate so they couldn't fathom how I feel.
I just truly hoped that was gods plan for me, to be a musician . I could only truly see myself being a singer.
One day, one day...
The class quickly ended and I was happy. I could finally binge eat chips and listen to music. And stop partaking in overthinking so much... it was torture.
________
(((Nyema below)))👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾
A/N:☟
Wasssup? Not much for me to say but keep shinin and happy New Year's.
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Peace🌙🙇🏾♀️