Gemotions

The dance studio felt small, the mirrors reflecting back his apprehension. He had spent years as a principal dancer in the ballet company, perfecting his technique. Now, the choreographer wanted him to learn contemporary. “Stretch yourself, Liam,” she’d said.

He ran a hand across his jaw, a nervous habit. The discipline, the tradition, the feeling of the stage beneath his feet, the precision of the steps… It was a part of him. He felt as though a part of himself was being stripped.

He recalled the applause, the shared moments with his colleagues, the feeling of pure creative expression. It was a world he'd known since childhood. Shifting to another genre felt, to him, almost like a betrayal of his history.