Dancing in Another World: Chapter 1 – Auditions

Tessa's POV

"Are you Tessa Haddon?" the lady asked as I walked through the door.

"Yes," I replied. I was quite nervous. About four months ago I had moved from Australia by myself. I knew quite a few people though. I had come to London to become a dancer. I had always wanted to be a back-up dancer for concerts or shows. And that was why I was at an audition to become a back-up dancer for the X-Factor.

"Ok". The lady began to write something on her clipboard. "And can you please tell me about your dancing life?"

I had written this all down on my résumé. "I have been dancing since I was three. I have done ballet since then but I have also been doing modern, jazz and contemporary for most my life as well. My strong points are in contemporary but I am not bad at the other three. I love dancing and it is what I have always wanted to do". I had always loved dancing and it was all I wanted to do. I didn't have much to fall back on if I didn't succeed as a dancer. I was all right at acting as well so it was all performing arts for me.

She then spoke to the girl standing next to me asking the same questions. There were about 10 of us there auditioning and only 3 could get in.

"Right then," the lady said. "I'm going to teach all of you a dance and then you have to perform it. There isn't much time to learn it so you are going to have to keep up".

I didn't find the rest of the audition that hard. I thanked the lady and picked up my things to leave.

"You'll get a letter in the next two weeks in the mail," she said as we all walked out.

A little over two weeks later it arrived. I had got in! I was screaming I was so happy. The first line had told me that I could be a dancer on the X-Factor. I read on and it said something else. It said that I was in but there was another job as a back-up dancer and I could choose between that and the X-Factor. They didn't say anything more about that matter apart from saying that I should contact them. Which I did.

"Hello?" it was a man's voice.

"Oh. Hi," I started. "I'm Tessa Haddon and I auditioned to become a dancer on the X-Factor. I got my note today and they said that I should contact this number".

"Ah yes. Let me put you on to Jennifer who can help you with that".

"Hello. Are you Tessa Haddon?" The lady's voice was quite high.

"Yes I am. I auditioned about two weeks ago" I replied.

"I have your notes here. Apparently you were very good.."

"Thanks".

"Yes Rebecca, who auditioned you, thought you were good enough to be a back-up dancer for a world tour. She was very impressed. Have you ever heard of the band One Direction?"

Had I? My all time favourite. I was there biggest fan! I knew all the words to all their songs and celebrated their birthdays. My room was covered with their posters and other merchandise. I would go where they were when they visited Australia and when I went to London for a holiday. I wasn't just any fan. I ADORED them. I have always loved them (since the 23rd of July 2010) and I could become one of their dancers. Inside I was screaming my lungs out but I kept calm on the outside.

"Yeah. I have heard of them," I answered straight away, trying to keep calm.

"Well they are looking for a few more dancers for their upcoming world tour and we think that you could be one of them. It won't be to much more difficult then it would be if you were dancing on the X-Factor. So are you up to it?"

"Yes. Definitely. I would love to!"

"Well, we will give you a few days to decide for sure. It is going to be a lot of traveling".

Traveling? I had travelled around the world loads of times and that was no issue for me. And as for thinking - I didn't need to think about it at all!

"No. It's fine. I definitely want to do it!"

"Ok then. If you are having second thoughts call again. You'll get an email in the next few days about rehearsals and things like that. I'll see you later Tessa".

"Thanks Jennifer. Bye"

I hung up the phone. Straight away I called my friend, Lea, from home in Perth.

"Hey Tess. How are you?" Lea started the conversation.

"Hey Lea. I've got the best news for you!"

"What?" She sounded like she thought I was being sarcastic.

"Well you know how I auditioned for the X-Factor as a back-up dancer".

"Yeah".

"Well I got in!" I heard Lea scream a little.

"Really. Yay! That's so good!"

"Yeah but I decided that I'm not going to go on with it!"

"What? Are you an idiot?"

"No. I got another job offer as a back-up dancer for a world tour!"

"Are you kidding? NO WAY!"

"Not finished yet. It's not just any world tour. It's One Direction's world tour!" I was getting excited just by saying it!

"Are you serious? Do not lie to me Tessa Haddon," she sounded half excited half confused.

"Lea, I am telling the truth. I'm going to be a back-up dancer for One Direction!"

Lea was also a massive Directioner. We loved Harry, Niall, Liam, Zayn and Louis so much.

"I can't believe it. You better let me meet them if they come to Melbourne!''

"For sure - well hopefully".

We talked for ages after that and then I contacted my family to tell them - I was so excited.