This is what I remembered:Lights. Blurred vision. Center stage. Hundreds of people in the audience with all eyes on me. The freshly waxed black stage floor, and the cameras suspended from the ceiling projecting your every move to the television, held by the judged table. I was nine years old going on ten. At that time I had been taking hip-hop, Tahitian, and Jazz dance classes for eight years already; completed in all three several times but never won first in Jazz. But I knew this was my year. I was more determined than ever. Spotlight competition was the big competition at the end of the year; everyone from my dance school WSPA and all over came to compete, including my friend Leighlani. Leighlani was like my best friend in the dance world, she was two years older but age was never a factor in our friendship. Leighlani was a Tahitian dancer. And although she only danced Tahitian she would always help me and perfect my dancing. Another perfectionist was my Jazz teacher Kelly. She was more than austere, she picked at every single smidge of a wrong move. If it wasn’t up to her standard you weren’t getting pass with her. At the time I hated her strict teaching but looking back I guess it was for the best. Due to the fact that was my last year with Kelly as my Jazz teacher I felt like I had to persevere through everything holding me back and take that win home. We were all backstage. Myself, Leighlani, Kelly, and my hip-hop teachers Patrick and Chris. Chris and Kelly were trying to get my music set up while Leighlani and Pat ran through my dances hundreds of times. Pat and Leighlani were downright and utterly frustrated with me. I couldn’t focus at all. My environment was throwing me off a bit. I was used to being surrounded with other quiet Jazz dancers who were keeping to themselves like I would be. But all around were Tahitian and hula dancers; huge feather headpieces, flowers being thrown all around, and the sound of wooden