(Background info: Jane does not know that her stepsister, Carletta, whose real name is Stephanie Goldmaracynthia Bell, is a missing fairy princess who has rejected the Higher World where she truly belongs and is currently leading a hidden life of crime as leader of her own gang named Safer Streets and is known as the Black Angel by her rival, the notorious Blithson gang.)
Jane had been encouraged by Carletta to try her skills as a dancer because she was quite flexible and seemed like she would have a good knack for it. She was told there were many forms of dancing but that if she wanted something ‘top notch,’ she should go for ballet, an elite, challenging dancing technique which one would need to begin learning from a young age in order to master the art and dance with the best.
She felt excited to join the other dancing girls and decided to find out if any of them were also interested in fairies which was her other great interest in life at the time.
There was a good group of trainees at the rather prestigious National School of Ballet, a proud institution that was second only to the highest and most expensive of all which was the London and Birmingham based Royal Ballet School, made for exceptional students who must already show a significant degree of skill and promise, and be at least sixteen years of age. Having just turned thirteen, Jane knew that if she did well, she just might qualify in three years’ time for the Royal Ballet School and enjoy a glorious career in the elegant world of dance.
Her first day wasn’t easy at all and she soon realised that this really was a serious form of dancing and would require her full dedication if she were ever to keep up and get good at it.
As they were changing back into their normal clothes and shoes, Jane spoke to Chloe Lavin whom she had briefly met before the training session. “Um, Chloe?”
“Mm-hum? What’s up Jane? Nice job on your first day. I know it’s intense and a bit painful but you’ll adjust to that. Most girls do. Well, the ones who don’t like, y’know, quit on day one. Haha.”
“Thanks. Yeah, it was actually tougher than I thought it would be. But anyway, I was wondering, is there a girl here who’s known to be the top dancer?”
“Um, Bridget’s pretty good, and Statia. But I think we all know the best one here is me!” She then laughed. “Okay, that’s not true. It’s actually Stella. She’s the best. You may have noticed she’s waiting till we all leave and is doing some more practice in the meantime. She likes to have the changing room all to herself. You can go back out and talk to her if you want. All of us girls here want to be like Stella. She’s definitely going to make it as a ballerina.”
“Oh. She sounds cool. Okay I think I will. Thanks Chloe. I bet you’re amazing too!”
Chloe laughed again. “I can only just stand on my toes but I’ll get there. I’ll catch up.”
Jane smiled and went back out into the large hall where the training took place. Sure enough, there was Stella, exercising and performing difficult and impressive looking stretches. After this, she started dancing again. Wow! She was good. Jane knew in that moment that she wanted to be like her and maybe even surpass her one day. Ballet would be her career. She was now surer than ever that this was what her heart wanted.
Stella saw Jane watching her but didn’t approach. Jane thought that maybe it would be better to wait till tomorrow before speaking to her. She continued to watch the dancer for some time longer while her mouth dropped open in amazement mingled with a subtle touch of jealousy. Surely, this had to be as close as a human could get to becoming a fairy. This budding professional was on another level and didn’t seem to be interested in the other girls.
She would later discover that Stella was actually allowed to go up another level in the training but didn’t mind staying in her current class for the time being so that the other girls could have someone to look up to and aspire to be like in the future. Several girls including Chloe Lavin who had thought of quitting ballet, changed their minds after noticing Stella. If she could do it, they could too.
Jane was still looking at the mysterious dancer by the time all the other girls had left the changing room and gone out the exit.
At last, Stella made her way to the changing room. Jane looked up at her while she was on her way in.
Stella didn’t seem particularly interested. Jane also felt a little shy but gave a light cough before finally speaking. “Hi Stella.”
Stella looked her up and down and said, “what are you doing? Don’t just stand around. You should either do some more practise before they close up or go home.”
Jane’s heart sank. “Oh. Okay.” She then headed for the exit. It wasn’t going to be easy to get to know Stella. But she began to feel more and more determined to become her friend one day and learn from her the secret to success and how to get good at the dancing art in as short a time as possible.
On her way home, she decided to text Carletta and give her an update: ‘Hey! Ballay was great today but quite difficult. I met two girls. One is really good.’
It wasn’t long before there was a ‘ping’ sound. It was Carletta’s reply: ‘Great to hear Jane! By the way, you spell it *ballet, not ‘ballay.’ Make sure you always get that correct or the other girls will laugh at you, okay?’
Jane then realised that Carletta would probably have some good advice about how she could make friends with Stella: ‘Thanks. Okay. Anyway, there’s a girl who is great at it but doesn’t seem to talk to me or the others and waits for everyone to leave before changing and leaving herself. I want me and her to be friends but I’m also kind of scared of her.’
For a while there was no reply but she later looked at her phone which said: ‘Carletta is typing…
Next came Carletta’s reply: ‘Yes, I think I know what kind of girl this Stella is whom you mentioned. Here’s what to do. Because she is used to all the other girls giving her attention, she will not be interested in you if you act like everyone else. So, what you should do instead is pretend not to notice her. And not only that, you should exercise and practise harder than all the others and if possible, as much as Stella does. Be the last one in the changing room but don’t wait until Stella goes in. Go in just before she does but just when the others are about to leave. That dedication to your progress and lack of apparent interest in Stella is what will attract her attention. You’ll see I’m right Jane.’
Jane felt delighted. Good old Carletta! ‘Thank you! I’m going to try that! Sending love. Jane.’
Carletta reacted with a heart emoji.
Jane & Stella
From then on, Jane put extra effort into her training and whenever she was in the school, she was careful not to look over at what Stella was doing or try to draw her attention.
But what she failed to realise was just how much catching up she would need before she could begin to stand out. Progress was slow and stressful but Jane knew what she wanted and pressed on as hard as she could. Eventually, she began to receive compliments from the other girls and Chole even said to her, “Wow Jane! You’ll catch up with Stella at the rate you’re going. Keep it up!”
Sometimes Jane had a hard time getting to sleep. She would sneak down to get pain killers. Her body wasn’t liking the amount of work and stretches she was putting it through but because her heart was so set on becoming a ballerina, she kept going and pushing herself forward.
But to her dismay, it was announced one day that Stella would be leaving them and going on to a higher class. No one said anything. While they all secretly admired her, no one was really her friend because she kept to herself so much.
That day, Jane was looking a little upset but kept to her routine. She stayed some time longer, exercising and putting into practise what she had been taught that day. At last, it was time to head into the changing room.
But Stella came up behind her and said, “Jane, is it?”
Jane jumped. It was so unexpected to suddenly be spoken to by Stella. She was worried that she was going to get a telling off for not hurrying up and getting changed.
She slowly turned round and said, “yes.”
Stella said, “Okay. Wait till they leave and we’ll use the changing room together.” She then pointed her foot in typical ballerina fashion and added, “I’ll give you a few pointers. No pun intended.”
Jane smiled. “Okay. That sounds good.”
Stella then stood outside the changing room and spoke loudly to the other girls. “Come on! My granny could get changed faster than you lot. Get moving please.”
Statia retorted back, “Boooo! Shut up Stella. We won’t miss you when you leave.” Chloe joined in and said, “yes! Get lost Stella!” Then Bridget and several others started laughing.
Stella shrugged her shoulders and continued exercising.
After they had all left, Jane and Stella got back into their normal clothes.
Jane broke the silence. “So, you’re leaving us soon?” But Stella didn’t respond. Jane then added, “you were going to give me some tips?”
“Listen Jane, I’m here for another week but if I put in a good word for you, it’s possible that you can enter the next level of training together with me. Here’s my proposal. You come to my house whenever you have free time and I’ll practise with you and help you out, okay? Within a week, you could just about qualify to join up with me and the higher class girls. You’ve already been exerting yourself a lot more than the others. That much is clear anyway. What do you think?”
Jane’s heart leaped with excitement. “Of course! I’d love that!
“Good. Well there’s no time to lose. Text your family and ask to come home later. I want to take you to my house tonight. My parents won’t mind. I did this with another girl before but she couldn’t cope with it. But I’d say you probably could Jane.”
The stress and pending depression that she had previously been feeling due to all the effort she was making, followed by the news of Stella’s departure had now turned into joy, excitement and renewed hope for Jane.
“Okay. Thanks so much Stella.”
“Well, don’t thank me yet. Also I won’t exactly be going easy on you. Anyway, how about you text home now and let’s move. This is the kind of career where you can’t afford to waste time.”
It was almost hard for Jane to believe. Stella had finally taken interest in her to the point where she even wanted to take her back home and practise ballet with her. With her help and intense training for a week, she might be able to ascend to the next level of ballet together with her. It did seem a shame about Chloe. But perhaps one day, she could be the one to take Chloe to her house and train together with her. But for now, Chloe most likely wouldn’t be able to keep up with Stella and Jane.
This was an interesting read. I have never really been into these stories that much in general but I found this interesting. The story about Jane going to a ballet school and the fact that her stepsister is a missing fairy princess who has rejected the Higher World is quite a shocking premise right at the start of the story. This made it quite interesting and engaging right off the start
Thank you Markis. That’s great that even though this genre isn’t your ‘go to,’ you were still able to get some enjoyment out of the story. I put the background info at the start because this is part of a novel series.
Absolutely enchanting story! Jane’s journey to the ballet school and her encounters with Chloe, Lavin, and Stella kept me captivated from beginning to end. The vivid descriptions painted a magical world, and the characters came to life with each page. Looking forward to more adventures in this delightful fairy tale realm!
Thanks Jono! Much appreciated. It’s great that you found it to be an engaging read.
Hi Dominic! Is such a great reading, this captivating story about Jane’s journey to ballet school and her encounters with Chloe and Stella.
I find the narrative engaging and it’s interesting for me to see how the characters interact and develop throughout the story.
Jane’s passion for ballet and her determination to succeed are truly inspiring. It’s fascinating to see how she navigates the challenges and forms relationships with Chloe and Stella.
The finish is very beautiful and encouraging. I am happy that Jane found the satisfaction of her hard aspiration.
Thank you for sharing these great short stories!
Much appreciation and best regards,
Idem
This is very encouraging and I’d like to say a huge thanks for your kind feedback.
This story really draws you into Jane’s journey at the ballet school. The dynamics between the characters, especially the mysterious Stella, adds a layer of intrigue. The advice from Jane’s stepsister, Carletta, brings a unique perspective that fits perfectly within the story. The anticipation of Jane’s potential mentorship with Stella builds so much excitement that I really can’t wait to read what will happen next! It’s a captivating narrative with elements of aspiration and the challenges of pursuing a passion – which I’m pretty sure so many of us can relate.
Thanks very much Stephanie! So glad you enjoy and can relate to the characters in this story, especially Jane and Stella. Your feedback is really great to receive.
What an engaging story! Being someone who participates and loves the world of dance, I could really appreciate the efforts that Jane put into learning ballet. It was a nice change to be able to step away and just read a well written story. Thank you for providing such imagination! I enjoyed it!
Hi Randi, thank you and it was great to learn that you are into the dance world yourself! I’m glad you liked the story of Jane learning ballet.
I’m loving the storyline in Jane’s ballet school adventure and her meeting with Chloe, Lavin, and Stella. It’s engaging and vibrant, making the characters really come to life. Have you drawn inspiration from real-life experiences or people for these characters? I find that personal connections often add depth to fictional tales.
The dynamic between Jane and Chloe seems intriguing! Their differing personalities could lead to some exciting developments. How do you plan to explore their friendship further in upcoming chapters? Personal experiences have often influenced my own storytelling, so I’m curious about your creative process. Keep up the fantastic work; I can’t wait to see where the story goes!
Wow, Jane’s journey to ballet school sounds like a real twirl into the unknown! Meeting Chloe Lavin and Stella Harlington? That’s like stumbling into a fairytale, but with more pirouettes and less dragons. I must say, the way Chloe’s grace contrasts with Stella’s fiery determination is like watching a dance-off between a swan and a phoenix – both majestic in their own right. Jane’s story is not just about ballet; it’s a leap into a world of friendship, challenges, and of course, those inevitable missteps (literally and figuratively). Can’t wait to see if she lands her jumps or ends up doing a not-so-graceful faceplant. Either way, I’m here for the drama and the dance! #BalletDramaQueen 🩰💃
Jane’s story seems to be a testament to determination and passion. Her resilience in pursuing her dreams despite challenges is inspiring.
The values of perseverance, dedication, and the importance of forming meaningful relationships, as seen through her interactions with Chloe and Stella, stand out.In terms of lessons, it seems like a reminder that dedication to one’s passion can pave the way for success, and the support of friends can make a significant difference in overcoming obstacles.
As for character development, it would be interesting to delve deeper into how Jane, Chloe, or Stella evolved throughout the story and which transformation resonated more with your own experiences or beliefs.
A very nice and interesting post, thank you.
I really liked the part where Jane discovers her passion for ballet at the new school. It is moving to see her connect with Chloe Lavin and Stella Harlington.
I wanted to ask you, what inspired the creation of these particular characters? Do you know?
Their interactions together seem to play an important role in the story, and I would love to know more about the thought process behind their creation.
Thank you
Hi Chris, thanks for this. And that’s an interesting question about the characters. But I’m not sure what inspired the creation of these characters and they aren’t based on anyone I know in real life. Jane is the younger stepsister of the main character in the larger story. The main Character is really Stephanie Bell but she is called Carletta Sayer in this part of the story.
But anyway, those other girls, Chloe and Stella just seemed to come as ideas; people who would fit well into the story.
Thanks again.
I just finished reading Jane Goes To Ballet School and Meets Chloe Lavin & Stella Harlington, and I loved it! It is a retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of one of the stepsisters, Isabelle, who tries to redeem herself after her cruel treatment of Ella. The story is full of twists and turns, magic and adventure, and explores the themes of beauty, fate, and choice. I especially liked the characters of Jane, who compete for Stella’s destiny, and Carletta, the fairy queen, who helps Jane discover her true self. Jane loves to dance and dreams of becoming a ballerina. I think this article is a wonderful read with my cup of tea. It is a great example of how fairy tales can be reimagined and modernized, and how villains can become heroes. I highly recommend this article to anyone who enjoys fantasy, romance, and action.
This blog post is captivating! Jane’s journey into the world of ballet, with the desire to connect with Stella, adds a layer of intrigue. The advice from Carletta is both practical and insightful. I’m curious to see how Jane’s dedication and unique approach will impact her relationship with Stella. The blend of ambition, friendship, and the challenges of ballet training creates a compelling narrative. I wonder, does Stella see something special in Jane that others might have overlooked? Looking forward to the next part of Jane’s ballet adventure!
My experience with the topic revolves around Jane’s journey into the world of ballet, her aspiration to be like the accomplished dancer Stella Harlington and the unexpected turn of events that led to a potential mentorship. The narrative captures the challenges and dedication required in pursuing ballet, as well as the dynamics within the dance school, with Stella emerging as an enigmatic and skilled figure. The story also highlights the importance of perseverance and determination in the pursuit of one’s passion.
In discussing the topic, it’s interesting to note the mentorship aspect introduced by Stella, offering Jane a unique opportunity to accelerate her progress in ballet. Stella’s initial aloofness and subsequent interest in mentoring reveal layers of character complexity. Additionally, the story underscores the competitive nature of ballet training and the impact a skilled and dedicated individual like Stella can have on inspiring others. Jane’s determination and the potential development of her friendship with Stella add emotional depth to the narrative, creating a compelling dynamic within the ballet school setting. Overall, the story combines elements of ambition, competition, and mentorship, providing a glimpse into the world of aspiring ballerinas.
Jane’s journey in ‘Jane Goes To Ballet School and Meets Chloe Lavin & Stella Harlington’ strikes a chord with me, evoking reflections on similar themes and recollections from my own life.
The narrative beautifully illustrates the role of mentorship in artistic development. Stella’s mentorship of Jane underscores how guidance can accelerate learning and inspire dedication. In my own journey in the arts, I’ve found mentorship to be invaluable. Whether in ballet, painting, or music, a mentor teaches technique and imparts the subtle nuances of the art form that can’t be learned from textbooks.
Furthermore, the story captures the essence of ambition and perseverance. Jane’s relentless pursuit of her ballet dreams, even in the face of challenges, is something many of us can relate to. In my experience, whether it’s in ballet or any other form of art, the road is often filled with obstacles. Yet, it’s this very journey of overcoming these challenges that enriches the art and the artist.
Lastly, the dynamics of relationships in a competitive environment like a ballet school are intriguing. Jane’s interactions with Chloe and Stella reflect a mix of rivalry, inspiration, and camaraderie, a blend that’s quite common in artistic circles. These relationships, while complex, often drive us to push our boundaries and achieve more than we might have in isolation.
This story is not just about ballet; it’s about life’s dance, filled with leaps, turns, and sometimes stumbles, but always moving forward. It’s a reminder of the beauty and struggle inherent in following one’s passion.
Looking forward to seeing how Jane’s journey evolves and what new challenges and triumphs she encounters!
Having somebody as a role model that one can look up to, is such a great way of learning and mastering something that one wants to achieve. It is refreshing to learn that although Stela was good enough to progress to the next level in her ballet class, she wanted the more inexperienced dancers to have someone that they could use as a role model.
Jane was indeed inspired by Stella, and her talent. And how great of Stella to take Jane under her wing and invite her to practice with her. I look forward to reading more about Jane’s progress, and her relationship with Stella.
I am very curious, is there a sinister plot for Carletta to get Jane to be friends with Stella? It seems that she coerced her into joining Ballet class and then coached her on becoming Stella’s friend. Surely there has got to be a plot here, is Stella part of Carletta’s gang? Are they trying to get Jane to become a member of this Outlaw Fairy Tribe?
I look forward to reading more of this story, I am hooked!
Thanks for this interesting preamble.
Stacie
Hi Stacie, thanks for this! And it’s great you enjoy the story. That’s an insightful idea about Carletta (Stephanie Bell) plotting to lure Jane into her gang. However, Jane would be far too young for that and she is her weakness. She loves Jane a lot and treats her like a beloved younger sister. She also hides from her the fact that she is in charge of the Safer Streets gang. Jane wanted something expensive for her birthday and didn’t realise that Carletta stole it to give to her. Her gang is made up of humans: eight men and three women including Keltolkia who is her highly trained recruiter and killer. No one in the gang knows the secret about Stephanie aka Carletta. The secret is that she is a royal fairy who was summoned to Earth as an infant and they couldn’t get her back. She then became corrupt and embraced the way of crime.
The captivating narrative of Jane’s ballet journey at the National School of Ballet is truly inspiring! The introduction of Stella adds an intriguing layer to the story, bringing a mix of mystery and mentorship. I’m curious to know more about the dynamic between Jane and Stella and how their partnership will unfold.
I enjoyed readying this story about Jane and “ballay.” Your introduction was good for someone that was just joining in on this story of the fairies. Your writing style was engaging and I was drawn into it and kept reading. I thought the dialogue was realistic. There was even good character development in this short chapter of your story. I hope you keep up the good work.
Really digging this ballet story, Dominic! Jane’s journey from newbie to getting noticed by Stella is super engaging. Love the mix of ballet drama and that bit of strategy from Carletta. It’s cool to see Jane’s hard work paying off. Makes me wonder how this new mentorship with Stella will shake things up. Keep it up, can’t wait to see what happens next! 🩰✨👏
Hi Dominic,
Jane’s transition to ballet school introduces a fascinating narrative layered with themes of determination, mentorship, and self-discovery. This tale cleverly interweaves the physical and emotional rigors of ballet training with the personal growth of its characters. The dynamics between Jane, Chloe, and Stella serve as a microcosm for young artists’ broader challenges and aspirations. Stella’s eventual mentorship of Jane highlights the transformative power of guidance and perseverance. It prompts a discussion on how mentor-mentee relationships can profoundly impact one’s journey in ballet and any endeavor requiring dedication and passion. This story also raises intriguing questions about the role of competition and camaraderie in artistic development and success.