"Plié, releve, then passé," The instructor said, demonstrating it on the barre for her sole pupil to copy. Elise giggled before copying her teacher, her little hands over her head as she turned on her tiptoes.
"Plié, 'leve, passé," Elise repeated, lisping a bit.
Elsa sat on the lounge chair by the corner of the room, smiling as she watched Elise dance. She had next to her a small face towel and a pitcher of water, just in case. She watched how Elise would stumble halfway through every spin she attempted to do, how her little face scrunched up in frustration when the instructor would remind her to keep her feet pointed, and how she would fall on the floor from a shaky passé.
But then again, she was only four. Falling's part of the process.
The whole ballet thing started when Elsa was invited to become the guest of honor for Arendelle Theater's season finale, The Troll's Prophecy Ballet. Seeing this as an opportunity to be able to 'connect with her people', as she often puts it, she agreed. She brought Elise with her, since she thought she would enjoy a show. They welcomed Elise with open arms, giving her little trinkets and snacks to make her happy. The invitation was also extended to Anna, but she declined, knowing very well that she would most likely just fall asleep.
When the show started, Elise was immediately entranced by the music, followed by the dancers. She thought about how their leaps made them look like they were flying, how they bent so easily that they probably don't even have bones, and how they were able to balance on the tip of their toes without any support. Elise was so engrossed that she didn't even notice Elsa positioning her on her lap so she could get a better view.
After the show, they stayed at the theater for a while before going back to the castle. When Elsa was tucking Elise in her bed, she voiced out that she wanted to learn how to dance like the ballerinas she watched. Days passed after that, and all Elise would do around the castle would spin and prance on her tip toes, trying to replicate the moves from memory. If Elsa wasn't busy, Elise would hold an impromptu performance for her in her room, the only living audience among the mass of dolls and stuffed toys.
Seeing how Elise was acting, she finally caved in and made arrangements for Elise to have formal ballet classes in the castle, transforming one of the many vacant rooms into a dance studio.
"Alright, little one. Next meeting, remember to keep those little feet turned out. Nothing's worse that seeing sickled feet." The instructor told Elise, patting her forehead with a towel she left on the far edge of the barre. Elise nodded before scuttling over to Elsa, spinning as she did, making her pink tutu balloon and making the two adults in the room chuckle.
"Why, hello, my little ballerina," Elsa grinned, kissing her soundly on the cheek. Elise laughed before throwing her arms around Elsa's neck, sitting herself on her lap. "Did you have fun?"
Elise nodded before yawning, resting her head on Elsa's chest. The ballet instructor bowed politely before leaving the room. With a small sigh, Elsa stood up with Elise in her arms and carried her back to her room, removing her tutu, leotards, stockings and ballet shoes before changing her into a casual dress.
"The things I do for you," Elsa whispered, carefully removing Elise's hair from a tight bun, smoothing it out by running her fingers through her light brown locks. She chuckled a bit at how different her life had seemed ever since this little person came into her life, but she wasn't at all complaining.
Elsa stayed with Elise, humming her a lullaby. Once she was sure that her daughter was out cold, she snuck back to the makeshift dance studio. She closed the door and roamed around the room, making sure that she was alone. With a hesitant wave of her hand, she froze the floor over, creating a miniature ice rink. She waved her hand once again over herself and her trademark gown gradually transformed into an ensemble of icy sleeveless leotards, stockings and even tutu, and her kitten heels morphed into ice skates.
"Alright," Elsa breathed, gliding towards the barre, ghosting her hand over it before holding it tightly, not at all afraid of frosting it over. "How did they do that again? Plié," she continued, performing the move from memory. She has been watching Elise's lessons closely, taking down mental notes (and sometimes actual notes, claiming that they were to help Elise's technique, or still lack thereof).
After a while, she moved away from the barre and started to skate around, both forwards and backwards, picking up speed as she did. She leaped and turned as gracefully as a seasoned professional, moving to the song that was heard only in her head. She was about to attempt another pirouette when she heard a familiar voice by the door, making her almost lose her footing.
"And you said you didn't dance." Anna grinned, chuckling a bit. She looked at her sister's form fitting attire and her grin morphed into a teasing smirk. "Nice outfit, by the way."
Elsa was as red as her sister's hair right about now. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear before speaking. "I thought I didn't as well."
Anna stepped on the ice, carefully treading on it since she still wasn't as comfortable with ice as her sister. "So, why are you-,"
"I was curious." Elsa admitted. "Elise seemed to be having fun, and I was intrigued by how much concentration and technicalities there are supposed to be in executing a pirouette or a grand jete. I guess I wanted to give it a try."
"I see," Anna agreed, though most of her words didn't seem to click in her mind. All of a sudden, a soft knock sounded on the door and it opened, revealing a drowsy Elise.
"I left Marcie," Elise yawned, referring to her doll. When she finally awake enough to notice the frosted floor and Elsa, she saw that her mother was wearing the exact same ballet attire she did, only more mature and not of the same material.
"You look pretty, Mama," Elise complimented, but not daring to step on the ice. She didn't know how to skate. Elsa glided over to Elise, picking her up and settling her on her hip.
"I'm not as pretty as you, little love," Elsa shot back, kissing her forehead. Anna smiled at the two before leaving the room, wanting to give them a bit of privacy. Elsa sat Elise down on the lounge chair, right next to Marcie.
"Alright, Elise," Elsa breathed, her confidence slightly wavering. She wanted to impress her. "Since you've always been giving me special performances, I think it's time I should be able to do so as well."
Elise gasped, her wide eyes twinkling with excitement. Elsa skated to the middle of the room, putting herself in fourth position before executing an impromptu routine. She did consecutive turns and glided across the ice swiftly and coodinatedly, like a professional would be. Elise started on, marveling at how amazing Elsa was.
Once Elsa ended her routine with a grand bow, Elise stood up on the lounge chair and clapped vigorously, making Elsa's grin even wider. Elsa defrosted the ice under her, still cautious about Elise slipping on it, and transformed her dance ensemble back into her trademark dress.
"Brava, Mama! Brava!" Elise cried out, browsing flying kisses towards her mother.
"Dance with me, Mama!" Elise grinned, walking up to the barre, holding on to it as she stared at Elsa with pleading eyes. Without another thought, she walked towards Elise, staying behind her.
"Alright, little love," Elsa said, holding on to the barre. "Teach me how to do ballet. If you want, I can teach you how to skate tomorrow."
Elise nodded her head immediately, happy with the agreement. She instructed Elsa to keep her back straight and her feet turned out, and she was happy to oblige.
"Mama, okay. Plié, 'leve, passé."
Hello! This one's extremely short, but I hope you'd enjoy this. I've been watching a whole lot of dance videos and I guess this was the result of it.
Plus, figure skater Elsa has to be in there.
Please do tell me what you think. Wishing you all the best!