February 18, 2020!

Hello Diary,

  It is me, Precious again. I have something thrilling and exciting to share! Today at 7:00 A.M, my best friend, Penelope, hooked on our leashes and strolled around our lush, quaint neighborhood. As we sauntered, I spotted something bright pink in the distance. I pulled with all my might and rushed Penelope and my siblings over to the object. It was a poster. This was what was written on it.

  After I read the poster, I imagined twirling and leaping on a colossal stage and hearing the thunderous applause echoing in the theater. Penelope is a fledgling ballerina, so I am determined to place a smile on her face. I had an idea, my brothers and I should take those ballet lessons. Then I pulled the poster down and hid it in my harness, but I need to convince Pudge, Prince, Puddles, and Peanut (wish me luck).

February 19, 2020!

Hi Diary,

   I am trying to convince my brothers, but this is what they always say, “NO Precious! Ballet is only for girls and we are boys.” They stubbornly snorted this statement over fifteen times. I hastily elucidated, “It is not just for girls! On the television, I notice boys performing all the time. Their moves are incredible like a double tour and a pas sissone.” They were a tiny bit interested, so I started to explain a couple of fancy French ballet words. Here are the words I taught them:

  Arabesque- That is when one leg or paw is up and the other leg supports your body. 

  Pirouette- An act of spinning on one foot while the other foot touches the knee. 

  Grand jeté- Is one leg in front while the other is in back as you glide through the air.

  Grand Battement- Is when you raise your leg while your hips and knees remain  

  straight.

Ultimately, they still barked “NO!” 

  Then I knew what a had to do. I pleaded, “Please, can you do it? How about this, Pudge, you can devour all my treats for a month. Prince, you may use all my raspberries for painting. Puddles, you can mark my favorite oak tree. Peanut, you can snooze with my most beloved blanket for a month."

  They paused for a second, then in unison exclaimed, “Precious, you have yourself a deal!” I was elated. We are going to be dancers!

February 20, 2020!

Hello Diary,

  Today is the day. We are groggy, but excited for our day. Peanut, who is always sleepy, was barely awake. I handed him my cozy handmade blanket, then I gave Pudge my delectable peanut butter biscuits. I was drooling while each petite, mouthwatering treat was getting devoured by Pudge.  

  Oh, it is time to get dressed and this might take a while. Ten minutes later, Diary, I am dressed and I adore my sparkly pink tutu and bows to match my pinktastic fur. I am truly ready.

  When I sprinted downstairs, I spied a mysterious black car in our front yard. Penelope’s mother spotted the car and opened the door! I shivered with fear, but guess who it was? MINNIE! I darted over to Minnie and squeezed her so tight. Then I gasped at what she was wearing.

  She had on a pale pink tutu and a bow to match. She was taking the ballet class too. This is the best day ever; not only am I taking dance lessons, but with my BFF! Well, I am off to ballet. I will write to you while I am waiting for class to begin. 

  This is stupendous! Every animal is at this dance academy. There are other breeds of dogs, felines, bunnies, mice, and even a horse! It is time to jeté, twirl, battement, and… huh? First position? We are just doing, this? I am confused and bewildered. Why aren’t we spinning on our paws (and hooves) or learning chassés? 

  Our teacher, Katerina Pavlova is coming towards us. I am motionless in first position at the barre hoping for a compliment. As the teacher approached, she stared down at me. Her stern face suddenly melted into a smile and rewarded me with a mouth-watering treat. This is going to be a splendid week!

February 21, 2020!

Hello Diary,

  We learned a myriad of different, but simple positions: plié, relevé, and the splits. It was exciting to learn all these moves, but I hope to learn more complex steps, like pirouettes. Wait… we are about to be taught how to spot. This is fascinating. We are learning how to spot a biscuit, but I will have to give it to Pudge.

  It was intriguing to learn how to keep focus on a spot while twirling. But it was a tiny bit tedious. Diary, will we ever learn something challenging? Why does everyone else seem more jubilant than me?

  Minnie is squeaking with merriment and even my brothers are having a blast. They are doing an elegant plié and relevé—Pudge looks hysterical. Well, we are about to be taught something else, so I will write some more when it is break time. 

  One hour later, we are learning a ballet combination, but they were not thrilling moves. I need to impress my best friend Penelope with this recital. I began to spin, twirl, and when I was about to grand jeté, I startled another dancer named Comet, the horse. He ended up trampling my petite pink paw. I squealed in pain! While my paw throbbed, I hobbled over to the corner and started to soothe my paw by gently licking it. Penelope and her mother came to pick me up a bit early since I was injured. Now I need to entertain myself. Bye, Diary. 

February 23, 2020!

Dear Diary,

  Today, I hopped out of bed, did my downward-pug stretch, and my paw is not sore at all. I was fortunate it was not a sprain or a break. As I scurried into the dance studio, I glimpsed a Holland Lop practicing the recital dance steps that I missed after that accident yesterday. Ms. Pavlova corrected the bunny at least six times. He seemed glum and frustrated.

  I sauntered to the bunny and exclaimed, “Hello, my name is Precious Pugington. Why do you seem so gloomy?” Then the rabbit responded, “Hello Precious, my name is Sir Thumper of Cuddledonia, or you could just call me Thumper. I am just frustrated because I keep messing up this step.” I could understand how Thumper was feeling and told him “This is my first-time dancing too, but…” Thumper corrected, “This is not my first-time dancing. Watch!” 

  Thumper started thumping his feet and did a perfect ball change, heel drop, a couple of hip hop routines, and an illusion! Then, I gaped when he effortlessly did an exquisite calypso. I clapped so hard my paws ached. Thumper blushed and proudly answered, “Thank you, thank you. I know how to do hip hop, tap, jazz, and contemporary.” 

  Then I replied, “I wish I could dance like you and do the advanced moves to impress my owner, Penelope.” Thumper told me to meet him tomorrow early in the morning. I wonder why diary? 

February 24, 2020!

Hello Diary,

  It is 4:30 A.M, I am the only pug awake, Peanut is snoozing and drooling on my most cherished pink blanket. P.S. YUCK! I better wake up my older brothers so we are early to our class, so I  can chat with Thumper. As ten minutes passed, they still were not awake, I tried everything. I thunderously barked in their velvety ears and endeavored to tempt them with canine treats. I only have one more idea; to pounce on them. Ok, 1,2,3! POUNCE! That woke them up. Now it is time to howl. Yes, Penelope is up, I hope Thumper is at the ballet studio. 

  As I sprinted into the studio, Thumper was leaping across the glossy floor and waved at me. I licked my owner  goodbye and capered right over to the Holland Lop, where I said, “Hi Thumper, why did you need to talk to me?” Thumper told me, “I have some advice to apprise you of Precious."

  “Precious, I have been doing dance my whole life and realized these effortless steps are the building blocks of the difficult steps. If I never learned my jazz split and my fan kick, I would not be able to acomplish a calypso.” I finally understood what Thumper was telling me, I need to learn the simple moves before the complex moves. Then he exclaimed, "The last thing I need to tell you, is you do not dance to impress other individuals. You dance because you love it. Ballet should make you feel joyful inside."   Thumper's advice was excellent and extremely helpful. I will talk to you tomorrow.    Bye Diary.