Chapter 1: New Crew Needed
On a sunny day in the beautiful city of Miami everyone was dressed in the bear minimum as they tried to keep themselves cool during the hottest heat wave of the summer. Out of the whole populace who were desperately looking for to save themselves from the blistering heat one man seemed to be suffering the brunt of the heat wave having to wear a full suit on such a warm summer's day, but beside from him sweating through his suit, the threat of passing out from heat stroke, and the fact he was dangerously dehydrated; he had a huge smile on his face. For he was dressed so fancy today because he was meeting with a new producer who just recently became interested in producing dancers after his last project in developing a hotel fell through a year ago. If he passed this interview then maybe he could be the manager of the next big thing he has done since the House of Pirates. He could hardly wait to be able to start documenting his newest dance journey, he thought as a small smile appeared on his face.
"Luke Katcher, Mr. Anderso is ready to see you," a secretary announced from desk Luke was sitting next to. Hearing this caused Luke to swallow a lump that had formed in his throat at the prospects of meeting one of the most influential and richest men in this side of America, but after a few deep breathes his nerves were calmed as he begun to walk into what he was hoping was going to be his new boss' office. The sight Luke saw when he walked into the office was a large spacious office with the view of one of the many beaches in Miami; that was extremely clean with a few plants off in the corners of the room with a chair in front of a wooden desk that he was guessing was where Mr. Anderso was seating out of his view due to the chair facing the ocean view. Luke took a seat in one of the chairs in front of the large wooden desk.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Anderso," Luke greeted after a moment of awkward silence wondering whether it was expected of him to start off the conversation. At the sound of Luke's voice the black revolving office chair spun around to reveal an old man with gray hair and a polo shirt and shorts to fiend against the blazing heat despite the excellent air conditioning in his room.
"Mr. Katcher, I presume?" the old man began only pausing long enough to get a nod confirming Luke's identity before going on. "Your reputation exceeds you from being an exceptional dancer to the documentary that you published about the inspiration of dancers all over America that is gaining a lot of positive reviews. So that being said, why should I let you Luke Katcher become the manager of a group that my people are predicting to be the next big crew in America?"
"Well Mr. Anderso, that's a good question from what I gathered from the job description what you need is a manager who can bring out the true potential of the crew and I know I can do that with my in depth research about what drive dancers to do what they do and my experience of being leader of the famous crew called the House of Pirates. Also I have many connections that can make your crew famous in America but most importantly the Streets," Luke explained with confidences that impressed his new employer a great deal.
"That's what I like to hear, so I will in trust my newest project to you Mr. Katcher. So here are the parameters of the project," Mr. Anderso stated as he passed a paper for Mr. Katcher to read. The title of the document read 'New Generation.' The content of the document left Luke speechless as he stared back up at his new boss with a confused look that made a smirk appear on the old man's wrinkling face.
"After talking to the best marketing team in America they informed me a younger crew will be able to reach a wider range of fan-base, which is why the team that you'll be forming will be made of the best dancers between the ages of thirteen to seventeen. This new crew must be formed by the end of the month in order to start their training as well as getting them recognized by the Street through a Dance Battle called The Ultimate Crew. This battle consists of several rounds against the best of the best for the title of The Ultimate Crew that will win thousands in sponsors, a 100 thousand dollars and more importantly will become the most wanted dancers in North America," the old man explained only to have his brows knit together as he saw that the look of confusion did not clear from the younger man despite his explanation. "What seems to be the matter Mr. Katcher?"
"Well first of all the job description never mentioned working with children, training the dancers, or forming the dance crew myself," Luke replied as he used the paper that the old man had given him to fan himself as he felt like the room was getting more and more suffocatingly hot if that was even possible.
"With your expertise Mr. Katcher you are more than capable to form and train a group of children. Plus this is an opportunity of a life time that many people would kill for, and if that doesn't compel you to take this project just think about the cash in after the whole process will change the lives of both your wife, Natalie, and your expected child," Mr. Anderso persuaded with a sly smirk playing across his face when Luke took another look at the project after hearing about how this gig would help his newly forming family. After a few moments of silence Luke agreed to the project with a curt nod of his head that made the old man's sly smile grow.
"With that solved, rest ashore son I'm not heartless enough to make you start entirely from scratch in forming this new crew," the rich billionaire assured as he pressed a button on his desk and told his secretary to bring in the Smiths. This caused Luke to raise an eyebrow but before he could ask his attention was redirected to the office door as it opened to reveal two teens that looked very similar to each other in facial features.
"Mr. Katcher, meet the first recruits of your new dance crew, Rachel Smith and Mason Smith, they are cousins who have been trained from the tender age of three by the best professionals that money could afford. They are practically professionals in almost every genre of dance from contemporary to hip-hop, and current graduates from the prestigious school, Urdang Academy," Mr. Anderso introduced with pride as if the two teen were his own, but if there was anything Luke did know about the duo they were probably expected to lead the crew. Great I'm really going to have my work cut out for me if I'm expected to make a bunch of preppies Street material, he thought as he gave a polite nod towards the teens as they stopped to shake his hand on the way out of the office. Luke was soon dismissed after them to start planning how he was going to accomplish the first demand on his boss' wish-list before the end of the month.
"I'm home," Luke announced as he walked into his two bedroom apartment that he shared with his wife Natalie, who he could tell was whipping up dinner by the way the apartment room was filled with the smells of many spices that were mouthwatering when smelt together.
"Hey how was it? Did you get the job?" Natalie asked excitedly as she looked up at her husband who slumped down on a couch in the living room with a sigh that slightly worried her but she wouldn't let her good mood sway until she had a definite answer.
"Yeah I got it, how I'm going to do it is another issue entirely."
"What do you mean? What's so hard about managing a dance crew?"
"If only it was that easy, I not only have to manage a dance crew, but a dance crew full of teens and I have to find said teens to form the dance crew all within a month," Luke explained as he switched on the tv with a sigh as he felt that a huge weight had just been dump upon his shoulders the more he thought about his task at hand. He turned his attention from a football game when he heard his wife laughing as she stirred the curry rice that she was making a little bit more. "I can't believe I'm in over my head with this job and you're laughing?"
"Chill, I'm just laughing at the fact that you have so many contacts that could help you find these kids and here you are worrying for nothing."
"Really Natalie who am I going to call to find kids that are the best of the best and street material?"
"Perhaps Moose? I mean didn't he say something about learning how to dance on the streets from a couple of students in Maryland School of Arts, I mean if a preppy school like that produced a kid like Moose than that maybe is your best bet," Natalie answered with a matter fact tone as she placed a blow of the steaming curry rice that she had been preparing moments ago in front of her husband. All Luke could do was look up at his wife with a look that told her he was wondering what he would ever do without her, and she was pretty sure he probably should just roll up in a ball if he ever did get a chance to ever find out what life was like without her. After giving his wife an affectionate kiss on the lips he called up Moose and many other dancers that use to dance with him when he was still running the House of Pirates. Thanks to his wife's wise advice his mission to scout out talented young teens became easier than he ever expect with him recruiting not only a few kids from MSA but also relatives of the dancers that had dance with him at the House of Pirates.