She twirled and emerged from the rose that was her dress. The petals, layers of dark crimson velvet and rose red chiffon fell around her pirouettes and toe shoes. She leapt through the air. All eyes were on her. Grace and glory. A vision of beauty in time and space, she couldn’t have been more than fifteen. The Scheherazade of perfect movement, each step told the story of her life, her work, her focus to be where she was.
She was the main attraction of the circus, surpassing the elephants, tigers, and trapeze artists. The ringmaster knew quality when he saw it. Money followed her. He kept her happy with silks, velvets, fine food, and gifts of the spirit, soul, and mind.
How long before she found a real stage, he wondered? These canvas walls wouldn’t hold her for long, even if the tigers were her pets. The rumors that the ballet was looking for her were true. No one hung in the air like her without word being spread. A prima ballerina, not a circus dancer, but she didn’t know her power. Not yet.
Each night she’d change from blue, to green, and end her show with red. She danced with fire and passion she didn’t know she had. It wouldn’t be long before she was a real star. She didn’t belong in a circus.
They both knew she’d leave for the ballet as soon as she understood herself. If she could tame tigers, she could do anything at all.
“Take my card, I had to see you to believe what they’ve said. Come join the ballet, tigers and all. You’ll dance right away,” said the man from the Biggest and Most Important Dance Company Ever.
She led her tigers to her tent one night thinking of her potential, and woke up in her power.
She was a star.
Devonne Brown 
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