“I speak from experience when I say that being part of this team might also challenge your romantic relationships because of the amount of time and work you’ll be putting into every day. Some of you might want to marry and start a family. I did my lastseason of cheering as a newlywed. And I can tell you that even though my husband was also a professional athlete at the time, it was hard. Between my following the football team I worked for and his extensive traveling with his NHL team, we hardly saw each other. So I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of you decided not to try out next year.”
This time Gen raises her hand. “But surely the veteran candidates will have some kind of advantage when trying out?”
“Everyone will be assessed the same way you were last week.” Carole explains. “If anything, the veterans will have higher expectations placed on them since they should know what kind of excellence we’re looking for. No spot is ever guaranteed. Your place here at camp and on the team is earned every day through hard work and dedication. So if what you’ve heard so far is a deal breaker, I invite you to let me know now and walk away.”
The vibe in our group has changed. I see several disappointed faces, and things don’t improve when Carole reminds us of something important.
“Don’t forget that right now none of you have made the team. We’re planning to offer contracts for this season to thirty-two of you, but we could take as few as thirty if we don’t have thirty-two women who can learn to the standard we expect.”
Talia exhales a shaky breath. “If we thought that getting into camp was the hardest part, I think we were fooling ourselves.”
Jodie wraps one arm around my shoulders and the other around Talia’s. “We’re all amazing dancers, Tal. We’re going to help each other, and if we need to train day and night to make it happen, we will.”
“That’s the spirit.” I smile at my best friend. “We’re in this together.”
“This is the way to get cut,” Genevieve taunts us. “Didn’t you hear what Carole just said? We’re competing against each other for thirty-two, possibly even thirty spots. Which means that ten,maybe twelve of us will be sent home without a contract. And to add insult to injury, if you get cut, it’ll happen on national television.”
That’s probably true, but I refuse to let that affect my relationships with the people I’m going to be training with.
If I can’t make this team by being myself, then maybe this isn’t the right place for me. “Noted, Gen,” I bite out. “But don’t forget that we’re also supposed to be a team, and that means helping each other.”
“We’ll see who’s the first who’ll stab someone in the back when it’s going to be you or them.” Gen smirks. “At least I’m not a hypocrite and I admit that I’m gonna look after number one.”
“Of course,” Carol smiles. “I’m not going to be alone in turning you into world class dancers.”
Four women come out from the tunnel on the opposite end of the stands we’re on.
“You’ve already met Lexi Cornell, our chief choreographer. As Google might have told you, Lexi and I cheered together for three years for the same NFL team.” Carole then introduces a statuesque brunette woman around her and Lexi’s same age. “These are Adrianna Bergen, our assistant choreographer. Ruth Browning, in charge of uniforms, and Marianne Da Costa, our team coordinator.”
Jodie voices the thought in my mind faster than I can. “Bergen? Is it any relation with…”
“She’s my mom.” Gen’s smug tone pisses me off, but I see one of the cameramen turning on us. I signal to Jodie and Talia in the hopes that they’ll keep as calm as possible.
“Your mom,” Jodie bites out. “Is the assistant choreographer?”
I’m proud of my bestie for not yelling at Gen like I know she wants to.
“Jodie, Taryn, Genevieve, and Talia, is there a problem?” Carole addresses us.
Jodie opens her mouth to speak, but I rush to answer Carole’s question before my best friend can. “We were just surprised to learn that one of the choreographers is related to one of the trainees.”
Carole’s tone becomes cautious. “Is that a cause for concern?”
“Very respectfully, ma’am,” Jodie says after I give her a warning look. “Will Ms. Bergen have any say in who makes the team and who doesn’t? If that’s the case…”
“Like Lexi,” Carole explains. “And any other guest choreographers and fitness instructors we might invite to camp, Adrianna will get a vote when we make decisions. But to put any concerns over fairness to rest, like during auditions, any decision is the result of voting. Each of the people who will be coaching you and be involved in the process of turning our candidates into Shooting Stars will have a say in who makes the team. I get the final say in any matter that concerns training camp now and the team later.”
Silence descends on the arena. You could hear the proverbial pin drop.
“Our vision for this team is one that pursues excellence in every aspect. From the way you look, to your dance and performance skills, from your knowledge of hockey to the way you conduct yourselves. We won’t accept anything less than the very best. And if you’re standing in this arena today and are about to receive your trainee uniforms, it means that you were one of the top forty-two dancers out of over five hundred applicants.”
Lexi backs Carole. “Each of you got a total score based on your dance skills, general level of fitness, looks, and the way you present yourselves. We are going to post everyone’s scoreseach week, so that everything is transparent and fair. Adrianna didn’t want to join during the initial selection process, exactly because she didn’t want to give her daughter any advantage. And while we don’t have to justify our decision making to you, I can guarantee you that Genevieve made training camp with the third highest score out of the one hundred dancers who participated in the final auditionsdespitebeing Adrianna’s daughter.”
“That’s true,” Carole agrees. “In the effort of not giving Genevieve any preferential treatment, we ended up being tougher when we judged her. If anyone is still worried about fairness, you’re free to leave camp right now.”
A dissonant chorus of voices fills the arena as we all express our intentions to stay.
Carole turns to look behind herself, at the same tunnel where Lexi and the other staff came from. “If anyone has any further concerns, you can come to see me in my office after you collect your trainee uniforms and pompoms from Ruth. But for now, we need to leave the arena to Coach Harrison and his Cove Knights for their afternoon practice. Please follow Lexi and Adrianna to our dance studio on the first floor of the main building. See you all in twenty minutes sharp.”
