GAME FACE Balancing Act by Brigitte Henry Cooper illustrated by Tim Heitz LOUIE LIN DANCING DYNAMOS Calico An Imprint of Magic Wagon abdopublishing com
ONEONE Dancing Dynamo I was upside down No really My feet soared through the air as my head whooshed over the springy foam mat A second earlier I had completed the first of two consecutive back handsprings In the blink of an eye my body finished its rotation and my feet landed softly on the ground Nice landing shouted Coach Amy I threw my arms in the air as I flashed a smile for the judges Usually I hated the showmanship that goes with competitions How am I supposed to remember to smile when I’m tumbling all over Today however every little point mattered It was the semifinal round of the Massachusetts and Dance Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics 4
Competition Girls from all over the state were performing individual routines in hopes of making it to the state championships next month Technical artistic and execution judges watched our every move They looked for the tiniest details that could separate the field The smallest point deduction could make a difference So I showed off my smile again for the artistic judge Keep it up Louie shouted Coach Amy from the sidelines Focus until the finish included a I was in the middle of my routine Things were going well I had nailed my technical components They front tuck two balancing sequences a series of back walkovers and a pike jump My limbs felt strong the sign blood was pumping and sending energy from head to toe As I began my final sequence the crowd clapped with the fast-paced music I had picked a song that would hopefully get them involved in the 5
