Two-Stepping with Isabel!

Have you ever created your own dance? Isabel did! It's a great way to exercise and get moving. Izzy saves the day while rehearsing for her sister Elena Maria's quinceañera in her special adventure, Isabel's Texas Two-Step. The honor court (Jill, Lauren, Scott, Alfonso, and Irma) must learn a waltz in one afternoon, and the dance lesson is NOT going well. Luckily, Isabel thinks of a solution and saves the day... and the quinceañera! Read on to find out how!

***

I clapped my hands and took charge. The success of Elena Maria's most important birthday party ever depended on me. I decided to channel my Aunt Lourdes. "Listen up, people. We've got a program to put on. And my sister is going to be very unhappy if you guys don't GET THE DANCE RIGHT."

The boys exchanged uncomfortable glances. Most of the girls nodded, but I noticed that Jill was standing with her arms crossed and her head tilted to one side, looking skeptical.

"So I am going to give you a quick lesson in how to master a new dance in record-breaking time. First, we need—"

"You're going to teach us a dance?" Jill sneered. "Um, sorry, Isabel, but we really don't have time to play with you right now. We have to do a real dance at the quince tomorrow, and I think we should work on that. Not something a twelve-year-old just made up." She looked around to see who was with her. "Right, guys?"

Lauren looked at the ground. All the boys looked at each other uncomfortably. Not even one of my cousins spoke up for me! I could feel my face turning red. Maybe I couldn't help Elena Maria. Maybe this was all a big mistake.

"Actually…" Scott started. Jill glared at him, but he went on. "Actually, I think Avery told me that Isabel was a dancer. And I even saw her dance in this talent show at their school one time."
I smiled. No wonder Elena had such a huge crush on Scott. He was one solid guy.

"Welllll … I used to be really into dancing," I told everybody. "I took a lot of classes for years. Mostly ballet, but other styles too, like jazz and hip-hop. But then I hurt my knee so I had to stop doing it. Now I just dance for fun, whenever I feel like it." I held my head high and looked at Jill. "Like now. So if anybody wants me to teach them a dance we can do for the waltz that I know my sister is absolutely going to love, we have to practice—now." I turned around, crossed my fingers, and hoped my dance troupe would follow my lead.

To my amazement, everybody started taking their places with their partners. I couldn't believe my speech had really worked! Jill was kind of still sneering a little as she took Alfonso's hand, but at least she didn't say anything else.

"Scott, I noticed you were playing indoor hockey without your foam brace. Does this mean your ankle's better?" I asked.

"Could be, Isabel. I just took it off it a while ago to see how I can hold up. And look, I can skate!" He pushed off on one socked foot, sliding toward me.

"Good work, Michelle Kwan. Now everybody pay attention. I think it's time to give this waltz a hip-hop spin."

Fonzie snickered. "Hip hop waltz? No such animal."

"What I mean, Alfonso, is that you take an old dance"—I started with a heel-toe—"and give it a cool make-over," I finished as I spun around and snapped.

My cousin Irma fell in step with me. In a matter of minutes we choreographed a series of moves that culminated in the spin: We froze. She krumped, I popped. We both hit a dime-stop then started again. The crowd whooped.

"Nice moves, Iz, Irma," Tony said. "Like a Texas two-step, but with a lot of style. Hip and elegant."

"It's Isabel's Texas two-step!" Scott declared.

Can they pull off the waltz at the quinceañera? Read Isabel's Texas Two-Step to find out!