Page 70 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
We bunch up as soon as we are off stage, and our faces split into wides smiles. We are breathless with exertion and excitement. Even the backstage hands applaud us.
We are ushered through the door into the green room as we bubble and chatter.
‘That could not have gone any better, could it?’ Bonnie is aglow like the rest of us.
‘What a feeling – better than being blootered.’ Cath squeezes Bonnie’s arm.
Bonnie looks puzzled.
‘Tipsy to you.’
‘Ha ha. It is like being on a high, isn’t it? Ingrida, you didn’t make a single mistake.’
‘Ja, I know. I am so happy. It went by too quickly. I want to do it again.’ Ingrida laughs.
The quartet of dancers are also applauding us in the green room and one of the two elegant French ladies hands Monica back her phone.
‘Bravo, bien dansé,’ she says to each of us as she strains her neck to survey our group.
I swear she is looking for someone.
‘Merci,’ Ingrida responds for us all. ‘This kind lady say well done.’
The kind lady then switches to perfect English with aslight Manchester twang. ‘You’re from the North West in England? Can I ask exactly where?’
Ingrida and I do a double take.
‘Cheadle, near Manchester,’ I answer.
She nods her head enthusiastically.
‘Do you know it?’
‘Yes. I was born near there.’
‘Really?’
But the woman is no longer looking at Ingrida or I, she is scanning the faces of the rest of Clarissa’s ladies, nervously rubbing her hands together.
Before we can say anything, the official calls the quartet to go through to the stage and Ingrida calls to them, ‘Bonne chance à vous aussi.’
We head back to the dressing room, and it suddenly strikes me – they were the dancers Fay had sat forward to watch. What was the name she muttered? I cannot think of it. Ah well, it will come to me but for now I am buzzing.
‘That was the best we have ever done it.’
Monica’s phone sounds and she reads Clarissa’s message as we navigate the busy corridors.
‘Clarissa said we were magnificent.’ Monica’s eyes sparkle as she reads the text aloud.
I could not be prouder of you ladies. You shone like the brightest stars in the firmament. But now you must descend like comets and return to Earth. You will need to keep your heads for “Dancin’ Fool”. Remember, it is a change in tempo and approach. Bright smiles – goofy moves – you can go over thetop with facial expressions in this one. Send it up. Think Charlie Chaplin in silent movies. Ladies, give it your all.
We all race to the dressing room but stop short at the entrance. Our euphoria evaporates. All our carefully placed costumes are now strewn all over the floor, our hats, our white pin-striped waistcoats, and matching trousers. Sheila’s group is nowhere to be seen.
‘Oh, my goodness.’ I stare at the mess.
‘What bitches. Look what they’ve done to our outfits.’ Ruby marches into the room.
‘My bowler is dented,’ Bonnie cries as she bends to retrieve her damaged purple hat from under a dressing table and attempts to push the hat back into shape.
