literature

Prompts: Irish dancing

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It had seemed like an odd choice at first, but Ariel had been so excited that Alice found herself agreeing before she even realized it.  It did make her feel slightly better when she learned Belle had been convinced as well.  At least she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t resist the red-haired girl’s enthusiastic pleading.


The former mermaid had often said that she planned on learning every conceivable type of dancing she could, so as not to let her legs miss out on anything.  So when Ariel started talking excitedly about Irish step dancing, Alice was not surprised by the choice of dancing style.  After the belly-dancing incident (which Ariel’s beloved Eric thoroughly enjoyed, and was rather saddened when she left it for another form of dance) nothing could really faze Alice when it came to dancing.  At least she’d been able to get out of taking those particular classes with her friend.  Ariel hadn’t even asked, knowing Alice’s leftover Victorian sensibilities would balk.  


In truth, she’d been just a little disappointed Ariel hadn’t asked, after seeing her perform.  It was such a beautiful, sensual sort of dancing, though Alice knew she probably wouldn’t have had the courage to do it, especially in one of those little outfits.


The costumes for the step dancing were quite pretty, and covered everything that needed covering, though the skirt was shorter than Alice had worn since she was a little girl.  It was also in a color she never usually wore, she’d never thought she looked very good in red.  But that was what was in her size, and at least she wasn’t the only one in a hue outside her usual color scheme, as Belle was in deep purple, and Ariel was in forest green.  


Alice would admit that she hadn’t known much about Irish step dancing beforehand, except what most everyone knows, that the arms are kept at one’s side, and that it is the feet that do all the fancy work.  What Alice hadn’t known was how challenging it was.  She enjoyed it, though, even if she realized early on she would never be more than a novice.  She and the others got to perform a few times at competitions (though only in an exhibition fashion, and not in contention for any title) dressed up in their costumes and with their hair curled in the traditional fashion for the dance.  


It was quite entertaining to watch the professionals, and Alice was thinking what a pleasant outing it was turning out to be, when Ariel and Belle both suddenly gasped.  Realizing her attention had wandered momentarily, Alice looked first to her friends, who were watching the stage with eyes wide and mouths open.  Almost fearing for what she might find, Alice’s eyes turned towards the stage.  Her own gasp was stifled by her hand, which she lifted to her mouth just in time to keep from embarrassing herself at how loud the gasp would have been otherwise.

Reginald was always a little put out when Alice got roped into some class or another by Ariel (and had been even more put out when she hadn’t been roped into belly dancing).  Alice presumed it was because it meant less time that he could be around to annoy her, as the classes almost always tended to be for women only.  But he hadn’t made any fuss about step dancing, and now Alice knew why.  Because he was a step dancer himself.  And more than that, he was good at it.


Alice could recall seeing a portrait of Reginald, painted when he was a little boy, long before he even took on the title of “Mad Hatter.”  He’d been red-haired, and while the color was not exclusive to Ireland, there were a lot of people from there with red hair, weren’t there?  So it was entirely possible he was Irish, which would make sense only because it was quite apparent that Reginald had been dancing for a very long time.


It was the outfit that kept throwing her off.  That had to be it.  Yes, the white jacket had similar symbols on it as she’d seen on the female costumes, but it couldn’t be regulation not to wear anything underneath the jacket.  And the black pants had the same designs on the sides, but honestly, it couldn’t help that they were so snug.  So very, very—ahem, moving along: she knew for a fact that Reginald’s top hat was definitely a no-no, but he removed that in a dramatic fashion almost immediately, revealing a thin leather band tied around his forehead, which couldn’t serve any purpose that she could see, especially since his wild white hair had been somehow tamed into a ponytail and there was no worry of it getting in his way at all.


Disregarding all that, however (honestly, she shouldn’t be so thrown by a man who normally wore an orange coat and green trousers) Alice had to admit that the entire spectacle was amazing to watch, even if she did roll her eyes at the end when he struck a dramatic pose, kneeling down and facing to his left, arms raised in a fashion she knew he had stolen from another dancer.  She didn’t have long to think on it, though.  Reginald had spotted her in the audience, and from his manic grin and wild gestures, he wanted her to join him on stage.  


Oh no, there was not a chance in the world.  There was absolutely no way that she—what was going on?  Were Belle and Ariel actually—yes, they were pushing her towards the stage!  The traitors!  They would pay for this, the both of them.  Alice didn’t know how or when, but they would pay, and dearly.


Knowing her face had to be as red as her costume, Alice had no choice but to let Reginald help her onto the stage.  His smile turned soft and encouraging, as he gestured for the music to be started.  His steps were slower than they’d been, and much more simple.  It was a pattern Alice knew from her classes, and she was able to keep up with him.  She almost forgot the crowd; she was so intent on keeping up with Reginald, that it came as a shock to her when they finished, and the audience applauded.  She only just held onto her composure as she and Reginald bowed, before leaving the stage.  He kept near her as people came up to shake their hands, keeping his free arm linked with hers.  At some point they found themselves a little away from the crowd, where they were able to actually hear themselves speak.


“You will never cease to surprise me, will you?”  Alice asked him, almost affectionately.


“It would hardly be any fun for me if the madness to my method were understood,” Reginald replied.  She didn’t know if he reversed the quote on purpose, but either way, it made sense in regards to him.  “Perhaps we can put a routine together for the next competition.”


But Alice shook her head, her temporarily curly hair bouncing at the movement.  “Ariel is nearly ready to move on to a new style, and Belle with her I’m sure.  It isn’t nearly as fun to continue without them, though I can’t help but wonder what she might spring on us the next time.”


“Perhaps I should talk to her; we could think up something that we all can do!”  Reginald said, and Alice suddenly felt a chill go down her back at the thought.  She warmed quickly, however, when she saw the sly look Reginald was attempting to give, knowing that whatever was about to come out of Reginald’s mouth would shatter the goodwill she was feeling towards him.  “Tell me, my dancing queen, have you ever heard of the Lambada?  They call it the forbidden dance, and—Alice, where are you going!  Wait for me!”


Yes, Alice walked away.  It was the only thing for it, really.  After all, Reginald was really too good a dancer for her to be able to kick him in the shin.


Even if it was tempting.
Well, :icondancinbelle: was the first to give me a prompt, so in my book that means she gets hers written first. I hope you enjoyed it. Like Alice, I'm not particularly familiar with step dancing, outside of the usual things people know about it, but I did a bit of research and this is what I got. Still, any and all mistakes can please be chocked up to my own limited knowledge.

More to come, "Rock Star" next, and after that? Who knows. Keep adding to the list on my journal page, and we'll see what I can come up with.

Disclaimer: Alice and Reginald are not mine, they belong to Disney and :iconbri-chan: and :iconrain27: and the idea was given to me by DancinBelle. I don't own step dancing either, or even the outfit and pose Reginald uses, as I blatantly "borrowed" both from Michael Flatley.

Edit 2010: I have a Formspring page now, feel free to ask me questions of any sort, I'll probably answer them: [link]
© 2009 - 2024 EmmyScarlet
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spirit-of-me's avatar
amazing! my day has been made complete. i can't wait for the "Rock Star" one tho. it's going to be halarious, i can tell already! XD