Reese stepped back, professional mode snapping into place. “Almost. Switch legs, everyone. Other side.”
They switched as Reese walked to the sound system to play the song she’d chosen for them.
“All right. Now comes the fun part.” Reese walked to the sound system. “I’m going to teach you a dance. We’ll learn it in pieces, then put it all together.”
“What kind of dance?” Emma asked.
“Hip hop style. Energetic, fun, a little bit sassy. And it’s December, so …” She grinned. “Of course we have to choose a Christmas song.”
“This just keeps getting worse,” Cody said.
“Just hang in there,” Reese said. “This will be fun.” She hit play.All I Want for Christmas Is Youfilled the studio. “That’s our song, but let’s learn the first steps before we put it to music.”
She demonstrated the first eight counts, moving slowly so they could see each step. Step right, touch left, punch arms out. Step left, touch right, pull arms back. Hip sway right, hip sway left, head roll, pose.
“Everyone try,” she called out.
Emma and Marcus picked it up immediately.. Julia’s version had less hip swaying but was pretty good. Cody was stiff, probably overthinking every step. Roan got the moves, but he was too heavy on his feet. But she could work with that.
“Now let’s do it with the music. Just that first eight counts.” She started the music at the right moment. “Five, six, seven, eight?—”
When the eight counts ended, Emma was grinning, Marcus looked proud, Julia was breathing hard but smiling, Cody looked slightly less miserable, and Roan looked determined.
“Okay, next eight counts.” Reese demonstrated. Turn right, clap, turn left, clap, body roll, arms up, bounce, bounce, pose.
They practiced slowly, then with music. Then she put the two sixteen counts together. By the time they’d learned all thirty-two counts—four eight-count phases—everyone was sweating and smiling. Even Cody.
“All right. We’re going to run the whole thing. All thirty-two counts. With music. Full out.” Reese walked to the light switch. “And I’m going to turn on something special.”
She dimmed the studio lights and flipped another switch. The disco ball descended slightly from the ceiling and began to rotate, activated by a motor. Immediately, the room filled with sparkles of light, dots dancing across the mirrors, the floor, and their faces.
“Pretend like you’re on a stage on Broadway. I want to see your sass,” Reese said.
“Sass, okay,” Marcus breathed.
“I’m all about sass,” Emma said.
“Ready?” Reese positioned herself at the front. “Let’s do this. I’ll count us in.”
The music started. Mariah’s voice filled the space. The disco ball spun, sending light everywhere. And they danced.
Step, touch, punch. Step, touch, pull. Hip, hip, roll, pose. Turn, clap, turn, clap. Body roll, arms up, bounce, bounce.
Marcus and Emma were pretty much perfect. Julia got off count once and had to catch up. Cody and Roan were still stiff but hit the right steps.
Reese felt the magic that dancing always brought, even to those who resisted. The joy of moving together, of a shared accomplishment, was not easily explained.
When the music ended, Emma threw her arms up. “We did it.”
“That was actually fun,” Cody admitted grudgingly.
“Can we do it again?” Marcus asked. “I didn’t quite have the footwork right on that last part.”
They did it again. And again. By the third run-through, they were loose, laughing, adding little flourishes. When they finally stopped, everyone was sweaty, happy, and energized.
Reese walked over to switch the disco light off and turn on the overheads. “That’s dance, guys. Just fun, right?”
“So fun.” Emma’s eyes glistened. She wiped at them quickly.
