I started on another dance manuscript/story idea. You guys know I love ballet…
I’m not certain the other story will see the light of day as it is now but while my mind is on dance and romance I wanted to share an older snippet from my book Firebird.
One thing that has always fascinated me about ballet is the relationship between ballet partners. In real life history, there have been many mercurial partnerships (like Baryshnikov/Kirkland and Martens/Farrell). In Firebird, of course, Prosper has Blake, who is NOT the hero of the book (that would be Jackson, the choreographer) but Blake still plays a big part in the story.
I like this scene where they rehearse together for the first time and you’re just like…oh lordy. This is going to be a mess.
“No,” said Jackson as they began the steps. “You’re supposed to be trapping her. Hold her. Grasp her. You can’t let her get away. Prince Ivan traps the Firebird against her will. And you—” He pointed to Prosper. “I need to see fear in your eyes. This sequence is going to be very dark and sexual. Attraction, capture, desire.”
Prosper flushed hot at his words, but Blake shook his head.
“Desire? Attraction? But she’s a bird.”
“She’s not just a bird. It’s not that simple. She’s a wild, exotic, mysterious creature you’re drawn to. Forget that she’s a bird—think of her as an impulse. A fantasy. Plenty of years to settle down with your prim Tsarina. You have this one chance in the dark garden with the Firebird. It has to be good enough to convince her to return later and save your life. Yes?”
Prosper stood with her hands behind her back, staring off. Wild, exotic? Mysterious? She had been miscast. She read it in Blake’s eyes as they swept over her, in the derisive tilt of his lip.
“Again,” Jackson snapped.
I suppose it’s probably not a spoiler to reassure everyone that Blake turns out to be a good guy. 😉
Here’s a really beautiful example of partnering that I’ve posted on here before, for your viewing pleasure, and below I’ll post the cover link if you’d like to pick up a copy of my book Firebird!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy74aAFhB6o]
Yas, guurl, show Blake some love!! ( I need to stop that slang thing, I can’t really work them, but I can’t help it haha). And I was reading firebird recently and still great after the ninth time haha. I really love Blake (is the southern accent) and Prosper is so perfect, she is so fragile, so delicate, but with this fire within, in other hand, I decided that i don’t like Kristen and she deserves a karma bus treatment too.
Oh… and I really, really hope “waking kiss” (?) comes to life. Cheering hard!
OH, I will always show Blake love. He meant well, lol. I love that scene where he drags her out of that party and faces Jackson the next morning. Maybe I’ll write a vanilla story for him someday… 🙂
I love that scene too. You see how Blake’s heart is at the right place, but that he is not the right guy for Prosper. I really hope that he finds himself a Tsarina someday.
Firebird is one of my favorite books and a go to when in between books. I think its such a beautiful story and the story of the Firebird is beautiful too.
There was a show long time ago on A&E called I think Hot Shoe and everytime I read this book I think of that show, and The Red Shoes …… I hope we get to read the book your talking about anything with dance in it is a good read.
Never been part of the dance world or the carny (circus) world but they seem so enclosed and private to us on the outside, its another world to me thats fascinating. The gypsy’s world too.
I know…there’s something about these closed worlds that’s so alluring. I think that’s why I always want to write in that kind of setting. Every day life or a normal workplace setting seems so blah to me. I want escape, lol.
Every one of your books has sections that are like jewels I go back to read over and over. This snippet is one of those jewels for me.
Aw, thank you. What a kind thing to say. For myself too, each book has special passages and scenes that stand out as my “favorites” and this scene in Firebird is one of those. 🙂
This afternoon I was watching a Figure Skating competition on tv, and seeing the kind of relationship some coaches have with the skaters and thinking abouth how hard their everyday lives must be… I though of you and your Firebird, one of my favorites of yours and also one of my favorites ever ^_^ Wouldn’t you be interested on that “world”? I mean for a book 😛
I have always been fascinated by the coach/performer thing. I think about it during the Olympics too. Very powerful and emotional partnership. I think when I get to Jason Beck’s story in my Cirque series I will really exploit that coach thing. It has the potential to be very hot!
Thanks for your kind words about Firebird. 🙂