Post by snmphotography on May 31, 2007 15:50:06 GMT -5
A NOTE
I'm back already!!! I'm horrible with titles so I think I'm going to call this one: Sway. ;D
DISCLAIMER
This was literally dreamed up the other night. Laila Ali's role is replaced by fictional musician Soledad Marquez. So I hope there aren't any hard feelings because I love ya all. So may this new fic be nothing short of enjoyable for you!!! -Sarah-
3-19-07 America's best loved ballroom is back with a cast like never before! An actor, supermodel, recording artist, TV personality, singer, musician, charity campaigner, actor, beauty queen, Olympic speed skater, and an NBA legend. With less time to train than ever before, our stars are pushed to the ultimate dancing test. Tonight. See who makes the grade, and who falls short. Four weeks of hard work all comes down to this. America, the wait is finally over. Live! This is DANCING WITH THE STARS!
Backstage, Apolo Anton Ohno looked like a kid getting a school portrait taken. A perma-smile on his face, he was like a statue frozen amongst the crowd. He couldn't help it. His nerves were getting to him and he needed something to take the edge off, but he didn't know how to prepare for performances. He was an athlete, not a performer. Yet here he was, standing among professional dancers and an eclectic array of celebrities.
His partner, Julianne, didn't stray too far from him and did her best to get him to relax. It was no use; the smile would not leave his face. Despite his cheeks aching, he couldn't relax the muscles.
Across the backstage room where interviews would be taking place, Apolo watched the non-athletes huddled together and enjoying the adrenaline rush. In the middle of Ian Ziering, Joey Fatone, John Ratzenberger and Billy Ray Cyrus stood the 5'4" Soledad Marquez. She laughed at jokes and played her guitar softly, making up rhythms as she went along. Apolo envied the performers. They had stage experience which, in his opinion, gave them the upper hand. They would know how to work the crowd, know how to read their reactions and alter small things to appease them. Whereas he (and the other athletes) were use to poker faces and concentration on only what they were doing.
Apolo watched as Ian and Soledad seemed to be hitting it off instantly. Ian was twice her age, but to everyone in the room they appeared to be old flames. The way she playfully hit his arm when he teased her and how he'd look at her while she played the guitar, you would have sworn in five minutes of meeting each other they were in love.
"She certainly is a popular one," Julianne noted, following Apolo's gaze.
"Yeah," he replied dryly. "I think I'm gonna go get some water."
Apolo rushed to the green room that was set up with ice cold bottled water, tea (hot and cold), coffee, sodas, and snacks of various kinds (both healthy and sugar-loaded). He bypassed the junk and went straight for the water.
He had no more unscrewed the cap and taken a swig than Soledad entered. She paused a second, taken by surprise that someone else was in the room, and then said, "He moves."
Apolo was confused and his face expressed it well. She grabbed a bottled water and chuckled to herself.
"Nervous?" she asked. Apolo sighed and nodded, taking another gulp of water.
"The best advice I can give you is this. Don't think about anything except your facial expressions. The steps are second nature now. Once the music starts, your body will do what its been told to do. Your partner ... Julianne, right? She's cute. Well, she'll lead you and make it look like you're leading her. Soon enough, you will be leading her. It might take 15 seconds before it kicks in, but you'll do fine."
"What's with the advice? We're competitors." Apolo asked.
"He speaks, too! I'm glad. I was beginning to think you were a mute. What's with the advice? We are competitors, but anyone who was as stiff and nervous-looking as you, needs some good advice."
"And your good advice is 'don't think'?"
"Yep. It's the best advice you'll get tonight."
She winked and stepped toward him. Before he knew what happened she had leaned forward and kissed his cheek declaring, "For good luck."
She walked to the door and turned around to say, "Oh, and ... after tonight I wanna hear all about how it felt to have little ol' me kick your butt."
She winked again and giggled as she disappeared into the hallway. Apolo didn't know how to take it. Was she trying to be nice or be a competitor? He figured she was either a very sarcastic person or a very cunning athlete, using her womanly charms (of which she had many as he could tell so far) to undermine everyone around her.
He swallowed the last of his water and went back out to the hallway. Julianne found him and was telling him she thought it best if they went over their dances since they were going on last. Down the hall, Apolo caught a glimpse of Soledad and her partner, Maksim, talking. Maks looked very stern and Soledad (or as she liked to be called, Sol) was watching him intently, drinking in every word. To Apolo it looked as if she may have had a crush on her partner.
"They're really in tune with each other," Julianne noted. "They're going to be our biggest competition, but I think we have a really great shot."
"Yeah. Sure."Apolo said as they turned a corner to practice in private. Julianne didn't want him seeing anyone else practice for fear of nerves overtaking him. This was, after all, unexplored territory for him.
The big surprise of the night was the secret Maks and Sol had been keeping from everyone. Sol was a trained ballerina and tap dancer. Though she hadn't performed for an audience since her mid-teens in theater plays, she had kept up practicing. After their incredible performance, they were backstage being interviewed where Sol disclosed, "I haven't danced in front of a crowd in about 10 years. Not since school, but I started concentrating on music so dance took to the back burner. I kept it up to stay in shape and because I do love it."
"Maks, you're a perfectionist and you're probably our toughest partner to have because you expect great things. How does it feel to have Soledad as your partner?"
"Well, when we first met, I didn't know she was a trained dancer. She never told me until we were practicing. I was trying to teach her a step and she said, 'Oh, I know how to do that.' She really surprised me."
"I didn't want anyone to know!" she argued. Maks threw an arm around her shoulders as she pouted to the camera.
After the show was done taping, Soledad invited everyone over to her place for a small party to get to know everyone.
"Looks like she's going to be the party animal." Joey Fatone noted to Ian. Apolo overheard their conversation since he was standing just in front of them.
"Yeah," Ian said. "She's a nut. But we've hit it off pretty well already. She's just really cool."
"Hot, too. That doesn't hurt." Joey added. He playfully slapped Apolo's shoulder and walked away.
Julianne came over and said, "So, Sol's having a party. We could go for a little while, but we should rest up. You did good tonight."
"I think I'm gonna pass. I'm still training before practices with you and I'm tired."
"Aww, ok. I'm just going for an hour maybe. I'm sort of tired, too. See you tomorrow afternoon?"
"You bet."
They hugged and said their goodbyes. Apolo left the building while Julianne rushed back to the small gathering headed out to Sol's house.
The next afternoon, Apolo rushed to his rehearsal with Julianne. He'd had a late start in the morning so he was behind on everything. He rushed into the dance studio, breathing heavily. When he burst through the door he saw Julianne talking on her cell phone while she stretched.
"He's here now," she said with a goofy smile for Apolo. "I'm gonna go now."
She hung up the phone with a quick "I love you, too" and tossed it into her bag.
"Sorry," Apolo said. "I've been late all day so far."
"You're not that late, but don't do it again, mister!"
Julianne pointed a stern finger at him and although the look in her eyes mimicked the finger she pointed, the expression on her face was struggling to remain serious.
"Let's just do this." she said with a laugh.
As they danced, Apolo asked, "So how was last night?"
"It was fun. Watch your feet."
"Sorry,"
"I stayed longer than an hour, though. Sol's amazing with music. I should have her play at my wedding."
Apolo smiled and counted the steps.
"Don't move your mouth. Count in your head. Look at me, not over me. Hold your frame. Come on."
Lately, Apolo felt like he did nothing but apologize. Unfamiliar territory did not suit him immediately. He only hoped soon he'd fall into a comfortable spot and be able to really work on this whole dancing thing.
I'm back already!!! I'm horrible with titles so I think I'm going to call this one: Sway. ;D
DISCLAIMER
This was literally dreamed up the other night. Laila Ali's role is replaced by fictional musician Soledad Marquez. So I hope there aren't any hard feelings because I love ya all. So may this new fic be nothing short of enjoyable for you!!! -Sarah-
3-19-07 America's best loved ballroom is back with a cast like never before! An actor, supermodel, recording artist, TV personality, singer, musician, charity campaigner, actor, beauty queen, Olympic speed skater, and an NBA legend. With less time to train than ever before, our stars are pushed to the ultimate dancing test. Tonight. See who makes the grade, and who falls short. Four weeks of hard work all comes down to this. America, the wait is finally over. Live! This is DANCING WITH THE STARS!
Backstage, Apolo Anton Ohno looked like a kid getting a school portrait taken. A perma-smile on his face, he was like a statue frozen amongst the crowd. He couldn't help it. His nerves were getting to him and he needed something to take the edge off, but he didn't know how to prepare for performances. He was an athlete, not a performer. Yet here he was, standing among professional dancers and an eclectic array of celebrities.
His partner, Julianne, didn't stray too far from him and did her best to get him to relax. It was no use; the smile would not leave his face. Despite his cheeks aching, he couldn't relax the muscles.
Across the backstage room where interviews would be taking place, Apolo watched the non-athletes huddled together and enjoying the adrenaline rush. In the middle of Ian Ziering, Joey Fatone, John Ratzenberger and Billy Ray Cyrus stood the 5'4" Soledad Marquez. She laughed at jokes and played her guitar softly, making up rhythms as she went along. Apolo envied the performers. They had stage experience which, in his opinion, gave them the upper hand. They would know how to work the crowd, know how to read their reactions and alter small things to appease them. Whereas he (and the other athletes) were use to poker faces and concentration on only what they were doing.
Apolo watched as Ian and Soledad seemed to be hitting it off instantly. Ian was twice her age, but to everyone in the room they appeared to be old flames. The way she playfully hit his arm when he teased her and how he'd look at her while she played the guitar, you would have sworn in five minutes of meeting each other they were in love.
"She certainly is a popular one," Julianne noted, following Apolo's gaze.
"Yeah," he replied dryly. "I think I'm gonna go get some water."
Apolo rushed to the green room that was set up with ice cold bottled water, tea (hot and cold), coffee, sodas, and snacks of various kinds (both healthy and sugar-loaded). He bypassed the junk and went straight for the water.
He had no more unscrewed the cap and taken a swig than Soledad entered. She paused a second, taken by surprise that someone else was in the room, and then said, "He moves."
Apolo was confused and his face expressed it well. She grabbed a bottled water and chuckled to herself.
"Nervous?" she asked. Apolo sighed and nodded, taking another gulp of water.
"The best advice I can give you is this. Don't think about anything except your facial expressions. The steps are second nature now. Once the music starts, your body will do what its been told to do. Your partner ... Julianne, right? She's cute. Well, she'll lead you and make it look like you're leading her. Soon enough, you will be leading her. It might take 15 seconds before it kicks in, but you'll do fine."
"What's with the advice? We're competitors." Apolo asked.
"He speaks, too! I'm glad. I was beginning to think you were a mute. What's with the advice? We are competitors, but anyone who was as stiff and nervous-looking as you, needs some good advice."
"And your good advice is 'don't think'?"
"Yep. It's the best advice you'll get tonight."
She winked and stepped toward him. Before he knew what happened she had leaned forward and kissed his cheek declaring, "For good luck."
She walked to the door and turned around to say, "Oh, and ... after tonight I wanna hear all about how it felt to have little ol' me kick your butt."
She winked again and giggled as she disappeared into the hallway. Apolo didn't know how to take it. Was she trying to be nice or be a competitor? He figured she was either a very sarcastic person or a very cunning athlete, using her womanly charms (of which she had many as he could tell so far) to undermine everyone around her.
He swallowed the last of his water and went back out to the hallway. Julianne found him and was telling him she thought it best if they went over their dances since they were going on last. Down the hall, Apolo caught a glimpse of Soledad and her partner, Maksim, talking. Maks looked very stern and Soledad (or as she liked to be called, Sol) was watching him intently, drinking in every word. To Apolo it looked as if she may have had a crush on her partner.
"They're really in tune with each other," Julianne noted. "They're going to be our biggest competition, but I think we have a really great shot."
"Yeah. Sure."Apolo said as they turned a corner to practice in private. Julianne didn't want him seeing anyone else practice for fear of nerves overtaking him. This was, after all, unexplored territory for him.
The big surprise of the night was the secret Maks and Sol had been keeping from everyone. Sol was a trained ballerina and tap dancer. Though she hadn't performed for an audience since her mid-teens in theater plays, she had kept up practicing. After their incredible performance, they were backstage being interviewed where Sol disclosed, "I haven't danced in front of a crowd in about 10 years. Not since school, but I started concentrating on music so dance took to the back burner. I kept it up to stay in shape and because I do love it."
"Maks, you're a perfectionist and you're probably our toughest partner to have because you expect great things. How does it feel to have Soledad as your partner?"
"Well, when we first met, I didn't know she was a trained dancer. She never told me until we were practicing. I was trying to teach her a step and she said, 'Oh, I know how to do that.' She really surprised me."
"I didn't want anyone to know!" she argued. Maks threw an arm around her shoulders as she pouted to the camera.
After the show was done taping, Soledad invited everyone over to her place for a small party to get to know everyone.
"Looks like she's going to be the party animal." Joey Fatone noted to Ian. Apolo overheard their conversation since he was standing just in front of them.
"Yeah," Ian said. "She's a nut. But we've hit it off pretty well already. She's just really cool."
"Hot, too. That doesn't hurt." Joey added. He playfully slapped Apolo's shoulder and walked away.
Julianne came over and said, "So, Sol's having a party. We could go for a little while, but we should rest up. You did good tonight."
"I think I'm gonna pass. I'm still training before practices with you and I'm tired."
"Aww, ok. I'm just going for an hour maybe. I'm sort of tired, too. See you tomorrow afternoon?"
"You bet."
They hugged and said their goodbyes. Apolo left the building while Julianne rushed back to the small gathering headed out to Sol's house.
The next afternoon, Apolo rushed to his rehearsal with Julianne. He'd had a late start in the morning so he was behind on everything. He rushed into the dance studio, breathing heavily. When he burst through the door he saw Julianne talking on her cell phone while she stretched.
"He's here now," she said with a goofy smile for Apolo. "I'm gonna go now."
She hung up the phone with a quick "I love you, too" and tossed it into her bag.
"Sorry," Apolo said. "I've been late all day so far."
"You're not that late, but don't do it again, mister!"
Julianne pointed a stern finger at him and although the look in her eyes mimicked the finger she pointed, the expression on her face was struggling to remain serious.
"Let's just do this." she said with a laugh.
As they danced, Apolo asked, "So how was last night?"
"It was fun. Watch your feet."
"Sorry,"
"I stayed longer than an hour, though. Sol's amazing with music. I should have her play at my wedding."
Apolo smiled and counted the steps.
"Don't move your mouth. Count in your head. Look at me, not over me. Hold your frame. Come on."
Lately, Apolo felt like he did nothing but apologize. Unfamiliar territory did not suit him immediately. He only hoped soon he'd fall into a comfortable spot and be able to really work on this whole dancing thing.
Can't wait for a new chapter.
