Kate Debiase

The Dance Diaries Kate Debiase

Follow best friends Tabitha Bentley and Jenna Hartman on a journey as their dancing dreams become reality. As Jenna watches Tabitha's dreams unfold, she begins an adventure of her own... Jenna: It was the second Saturday in September-the first Saturday dance class of the season. The first dance class Jenna Hartman had ever taken without her best friend, Tabitha Bentley. Tabitha, of course, was an amazing jazz and contemporary dancer-part of what led to her role in a theater production in the City and the reason for her Saturday dance class absence. Jenna had her own strengths. Her ballet technique was better than anyone in class and her long limbs made beautifully clean lines that were not only envied by other students, but also by her teachers. As eighth graders, Jenna and Tabitha had the much-deserved honor of reaching the top class in their studio-the Elite class-before most other dancers. When Jenna got home from class, she made herself a turkey sandwich, then put on her bathing suit to go in the pool. It was a beautiful day. The August heatwave continued into September, so her parents delayed closing the pool. She hopped on the giant two-person raft that her and Tab had floated on together all summer, took her dance class bun out and let her long, wavy blonde hair fall into the water. As Jenna was floating and relaxing, her brothers ran out screaming as they cannonballed into the pool. Jenna took one last dip in the water to cool off, then she got out and dried herself off. She was in her room when Tabitha FaceTimed her. "Hey girl! Missed you in class today!" she said, happy to see Tab's face. "How was it?!" "A little more intense than last year, but it was good. Today, we worked on turns and proper body alignment. I actually did a quadruple pirouette!"