On Pointe by Sheryl Berk

chews.
    When it was time for the gingerbreads to perform, Liberty was first out onstage, leaping through the air and exploding into a breathtaking cartwheel. The rest of the gingerbread dancers waddled in behind her. Their comical routine made the audience roar with laughter—especially when Liberty threw real ginger candies into the audience and pelted Justine in the face with one of them. She ran offstage, panting.
    â€œThat was pretty awesome,” Scarlett congratulated her. “You stole the show.”
    Liberty beamed. “I guess this cookie role wasn’t so crummy after all.”
    Next up was the “Arabian Coffee” duet, a mysterious
pas de deux
performed by a couple dressed in matching red-and-gold Middle Eastern costumes. Gracie’s eyes widened as she saw Miss Toni and Marcus make their way across the stage as the romantic duo.
    â€œCheck it out!” Rochelle pulled Scarlett over to watch from the wings. “Toni and Marcus are killin’ it!”
    Scarlett was mesmerized. She had never really seen her dance coach perform onstage before. She marveled at her poise and presence; the way she extended her arms and legs into graceful long lines; and how her face captured every emotion the music was trying to convey. “Wow,” she said breathlessly. “Just wow.”
    All the candies came out onstage to perform a grand group number led by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Anya floated onto the stage in a shimmering pink tutu. With a wave of her wand, the Ferris wheel lit up and began to turn. Hayden held her hand as she did a graceful
arabesque
and then bestowed a kiss on Clara’s and the prince’s foreheads.
    In the last scene, Gracie danced around the Christmas tree once again, cradling her nutcracker doll in her arms. Olivier was transformed back into a real boy, and the Land of Sweets faded away with her dreams. She waved good-bye to the Sugar Plum Fairy and the curtain fell.
    â€œI did it! I did it!” she said, as her teammates huddled around her backstage.
    â€œYou were an amazing Clara,” Liberty said. “I couldn’t have done it better myself.”
    The curtain rose again for bows, and Marcus came out and handed Anya, Olivier, and Gracie bouquets of roses. He had one more bouquet left, which he presented to Miss Toni.
    â€œThank you—for your wonderful Divas and for saving the day,” he told her.
    Toni curtsied and kissed him on the cheek. She waved to the audience and was not at all surprised to see that Justine’s seat in the front row was now empty.
    â€œI hope we didn’t drive her too nuts,” she told her girls, with a wink.

Chapter 16
Home Sweet Home

    After a weekend of wonderful performances, the Divas were sad to see
A New Jersey Nutcracker
end. The area thawed out, and audiences filled the theater to capacity for both the Sunday and Monday shows during the holiday break. The
Times
dance critic called the ballet “a luminous production” and in particular, mentioned “a darling debut by Gracie Borden as Clara, who brought youthful exuberance to the role.”
    â€œWhat’s an exuber-dance?” she asked her mom.
    â€œIt means you lit up the stage,” her mother replied, chuckling. “I’m getting this review framed and putting it up in your room.”
    Miss Toni gave the girls a mere two days to rest up and recover from the shows. When they came to dance class at four o’clock on Thursday, it was back to business as usual.
    â€œHang up your toe shoes, Divas,” she told her team. “
The Nutcracker
is history, and we’re back to competing. Or have you all forgotten what it’s like to go head-to-head with Justine and City Feet?”
    The girls shook their heads. They hadn’t forgotten and they fully expected Addison and her fellow Feet to try and get even for everything that went down during
Nutcracker
.
    â€œWe’re traveling to Maryland right after the new