I sat in the middle of the dance studio putting on my ballet shoes. After I put on my shoes I started to sweep around the studio. I turned on the music and swept along to the beat.

After I was done sweeping I opened up the blinds and let the sun light in. I never opened the windows though. To many sirens. When the children come to the Clark Studio of Dance I want them to forget about the horrible things that go on in our city.

Don't get me wrong I love our city but it can be scary and overwhelming especially for a child. After I was done setting up the studio for class I stretched and then started to dance.

I twirled and jumped all around the studio. When I dance it is like the world disappears and then it is just me. It also makes me feel closer to my mom.

I stopped when I heard a small voice cheer along with clapping. I turned to see one of my regular students and her grandmother.

"Hello Selena!" I said giving the little girl a hug. "Hello !" she said happily. "Go put you shoes on and start stretching ok." I said as I patted her on the head. She nodded and ran to the cubbies.

I smiled at her grandmother "Hola señora Cardenas. ¿Como estas?" I said with a smile. She grinned at me. I am not completely fluent at Spanish but I knew some words.

She started to speak a mile a minute. I was trying to catch every word that she was saying. She laughed at my confused face. "What I had said was your Spanish is improving." said trying not to make a mistake. I smiled "Ah! So is your English." I said
with a smile.

"So how are you?" asked. "I am doing ok. I am getting more students so that's good." I said with a smile as more girls with their parents walked in.

"Oh and I can't pay for next months lessons so Selena will be gone next month." told me. I shook my head. "No don't worry about that. She can still come. I will pay for it." I said watching the girls stretch. Selena's grandmother looked at me.

"No No..,.. Kalila." she argued. "Selena has a gift. I don't want her to miss any classes." I said not taking no for an answer. smiled "Thank you so much. You do so much for the girls." said gratefully.

"Well someone has to." I said before I started the class.

For the families that are apart of my dance studio this is an escape for their children and them. It is like a safe haven. This is the only dance studio in Hell's Kitchen. Parents come here and see their children enjoy what they love to do, which is dance.

So many families are living a hard life in this city. This dance studio is the bright light in the darkness of this city. I got some offers to move my studio to up state New York but I turned them down.

No matter how bad it gets I love this town. It's apart of me. Class ended around 4 o'clock. It was getting dark and I had one student left. Her parents always pick her up late. They have late work hours.

We were both stretching, I was in a split touching my toe. The little girl looked at me curious. "How do you do that?" she asked. I looked over at her "Well my mom taught me at a young age. She used to tell me that when you are younger your bones and
muscles are manipulative." I said as I stretched back and touched my other toe.

She looked at me with wide eyes. "That is amazing. Was your mom talented?" she asked. I sighed "Yes she was. This is actually her studio." I said as I sat up and crossed my legs on the floor in front of me.

"She was the best." I said with a smile remembering how she taught me how to dance.

(Flashback)

I was sitting in the corner of the studio doing homework. Every now and then I would look up and watch my mom dance. But then she would look at me and I would get back to work.

"Once you are done I can teach you. So stop watching and hurry up so you can finish your homework and actually learn how to dance by doing not watching." my mother said sternly.

I nodded quickly and hurried to finish my work. After I was done that was when my real work started. My mom pushed me to become the dancer that I am today. While also home schooling me. She also taught me a lot about Anatomy. I was able to name every
part of the human body at the age of 9.

After my mom was done teaching class for the day we would get dinner from the diner across the street and sit on top of the studio roof. We would sit and talk while we ate and watched the sun set over the city.

My mom turned to me "This is a beautiful city." she said looking down at the busy streets. I looked at her like she was crazy "Mom are you serious this city is trash." I said sadly. My mom smacked me on the arm.

"Hey! Don't ever look down on this city do you hear me!?" she stated upset. I nodded my head. "Don't judge a book by its cover. Many good people live in this city. Trying to make a life here. This is your city. Take pride in it understand?" she said with
pride.

"Understood." I said looking out at the city that was my home.

(Flashback Over)

"Sorry we are late!" I turned to see the girls parents walking in. She ran to greet her parents. I got up and smiled "No problem." I stated. "You should really lock your door when it gets this late." the girl's father said. I chuckled "Don't worry sir
I can protect myself."

I said as a grabbed my dance bag throwing it over my shoulder.