Narrative Essay

Final Draft of  my narrative essay, any comments are welcome! 

Jessica Harding

Writing 150

Final Draft due April 4^th

The Dance of our Lives

“And now, the West Albany Hi-Steppers!”

It was time.  All of our hard work had amounted to this moment right here.  As my dance team slowly, gracefully walked out onto the former basketball court, I knew every member was as anxious and scared as I was.

“Would all of our hard work pay off?” was the question on every performer’s mind.

 It was the state competition and we had furiously practiced for this moment for months before this time.  Every step was ingrained in my deepest memory.  All of the dancers were counting on each other to know the tiniest details of the dance we were about to perform.  The dedicatory words of the dance started and we took position.  I could barely make out the faces of my family, but I knew they were seated in the largest stadium in the state of Oregon.   Both sets of grandparents had shown up ready to watch what I had been working so hard on for months.  Lying on the ice-cold court, ready for coach to cue the music, my heart was pounding in my chest.  The smile we were required to have on our faces before we stepped out onto the court felt uncommitted.  I was scared out of my mind, silently praying on the court that I would not embarrass myself in front of my family and ruin my team’s chances at the championship.  I was sure everyone in the stadium could see the girl on the floor, shaking like a leaf.

As we waited on the floor, the tension mounted.  My mind went blank as I tried to nervously go over the looming dance moves in my mind.  I could barely see the rest of my team next to me. 

“Why wasn’t the music started yet?” we wondered nervously.

When the music finally started, we preformed what we had been working on for so long.  As I started dancing I was enveloped in the words and meaning of the song.  At first, I was scared for all of us, but when I heard that beginning note a new, peaceful feeling settled over me.  I knew that my body was trained for this, and hardly had to think about what I was doing.  I had practiced for this moment and was ready.  This sudden calm side of me took over and I could feel the emotion pouring from my body.  The smile on my face became real as I became conscious of the fact that I was actually enjoying this!  Because we had practiced so hard, everyone knew exactly what to do and we could perform without a second thought.  I could dance with the enthusiasm and energy as if I had been practicing alone, but with the thrill and excitement of the crowd watching our every move. I was no longer afraid, but animated by the cheers of the crowd and smiles of the judges.  While showing the judges exactly how I felt, I could see my family cheering out of the corner of my eye.  Coach was crying in the third row, and as the song, ended most of us were crying tears of happiness as well.

We ran off the court and everyone embraced.  The tears of joy of competing mixed with the tears of sadness of another year ending.  I could feel the sense of accomplishment and joy that was unanimous as we executed the dance perfectly.