The Battle of Beats

Theme - Friend

The "Battle of Beats" dance competition was coming closer. Hardly a week was remaining. Vanessa and Amy both were participating in it. Amy had been in the school since grade one, but Vanessa had joined two years ago. They were both fifteen years old. 

They liked each other's company, but they did not come under the category of "best friends". In the whole tenth standard, there were several friend groups but these two were shy introverts. They did not open up in front of everyone but when they were together, their behavior would be completely opposite. So, let's come back to the dance competition. Amy was passionate about dancing and was learning Indian classical dance kuchipudi since she was five years old. Whereas Vanessa was interested in dancing but considered it just a hobby. 

Vanessa was very pessimistic. She looked at things in a negative way and was never confident. She was very smart but because of self-doubt, she did not get the proper outcome of her hard work. What she needed was someone who was like her and helped her to gain confidence and that person was Amy. She was the one whom Vanessa needed the most. Amy would encourage Vanessa and tried to bring the best out of her. Because of her company Vanessa's grades boosted and she came on the right track. But she was very shy to perform on stage in front of the judges and the audience. 

On the day before the competition, Vanessa, as usual, was thinking about the competition in a negative way. She was self-doubting her hard work and was creating fake scenarios in her mind. She was constantly revising her dance steps and was becoming nervous. She was so scared that she decided to withdraw her name. But before doing that, she decided to tell Amy about this. 

She went to Amy and shared her thoughts to her. Amy said, "You should not think this much! You have practised so hard. Don't think about the outcome and just give your hundred percent tomorrow. Come on bro!"

"But there are so many contestants. I think that I have not practiced much. I don't know whether I will remember my steps tomorrow. I know my choreography is not that good. It is just a waste of-"

"Shut up and listen to me Van! You have a great choreography and a great song! Listen to this carefully. Suppose you have learnt swimming for two years. You are sailing in a ship with your family in a calm, peaceful environment. Something happens and you fall in the water. What will you do? Will you think about how to swim? Will you think about how to move? How to coordinate arms and legs? How to breathe? No. You will just start swimming without thinking because you know that you have two years' experience of swimming, and you cannot forget that. If you keep thinking, then you will drown. Similarly, for tomorrow, don't stress too much. Just revise once with a calm mind and give your best! Don't think about the outcome or the audience. Just do it!"

Vanessa nodded her head with a tense look. She said, "Okay let's see. All the best Amy!"

"Yeah, I got to go. I have to practice too. All the best Vann. I know you'll rock tomorrow!"

The next day was an important day for all the contestants of the dance competition. The winner would get five hundred dollars and top three winners would get a chance to meet Micheal Jackson. 

The green room had become a field of colourful flowers. All the girls and boys were hurriedly getting ready for their performances. It was humid inside the room. Everyone was sweaty and there was a continuous hustle going on. The competition was about to start in thirty minutes. 

Through the dense field of flowers, Amy reached out to Vanessa. She kept a hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't sweat it. Just go and break the floor, Van! It will be your stage as soon as you step on it. All the best!"

"Thanks a lot Amy! All the best to you too! Your hard work should pay off today!"

The battle started. There were in all twenty-six participants. Zara, a ballet dancer, was giving her breathtaking performance. Her movements were like that of fresh silk that pours down like cream. After her it was Vanessa's turn.

"Now comes Vanessa Parker to present a fusion of three dance styles that are popping, tutting and break dance!"

As soon as Vanessa stepped on the stage, a wave of positivity went through her body, and she started dancing. Her movements were very sharp, and she gave the perfect expressions. Amy was standing in the wings and was looking at Vanessa giving her amazing performance. After her dance was over, Vanessa came inside and hugged Amy tightly. "Thank you so much Amy," she said.

"Fantastic performance Van! I told you that you would be amazing. Oh, I'm next! Wish me luck!"

"Good luck Amy."

Amy presented a fusion of Kuchipudi and Jazz which was also very astounding. After all the participants had completed their performances, the judges climbed the stage for the most awaited part- the results. 

"In the third place we have Amy Smith!"

Everyone applauded for Amy. The judges handovered the trophy to her.

"In the second place we have Zara Williams!"

"The winner of the 'Battle of Beats' dance competition 2004 is..." 

It was complete silence in the auditorium. Vanessa was inside the wings. She could hear her heart thumping loudly. 

"Vanessa Parker!"

The hall filled with claps of appreciation and the whole room lit up. Vanessa climbed the stage with a broad smile on her face. When the judges were about to hand over the trophy and the prize to Vanessa, Amy came running towards her and gave her a tight hug. She whispered, "I knew you could do it! Congrats Van."

Vanessa's eyes were glowing. She had never felt so confident and enthusiastic. The judges handovered the award and the five hundred dollars to Vanessa. She asked for the microphone for she had to say something.

"Thank you judges for choosing me as the winner of the competition. I did not even think that I could come first. Yesterday I was so nervous that I was about to withdraw my name from the competition. I could only achieve this because of this one person who did not leave my hand and did not let me fall once again. The person who hugged me despite of being in the same competition. The person who has always cheered me up and I know that she will always cheer me up. The person who always keeps others before her. The person who knows the true meaning of friendship and sportsmanship. Amy Smith. It is very difficult to find a friend like you and I must say that I am really lucky to find you. Thank you so much Amy for everything!"

Everyone put their hands together. Amy was standing on the stage with her watery eyes looking at Vanessa.