The desk was a riot of half-read notes, unfinished accountancy books, a small pile of scripts, and a significantly larger pile of choreography notations. Mataya De Luca sat behind it, ignoring everything but the paper in her hand. It was the official deed of ownership for the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studio, and the current source of both her headache and the tears dripping off her chin.
Never in a million years would she had expected Riley to pass her beloved studio onto her. It wasn't a thought that had ever occurred to her. After all, who could possibly have predicted that the vibrant and always active Mrs Lo would succumb to whatever it was that had put her in the coma in the first place" 'Taya was still angry that she hadn't known what was going on, but she could understand why David had been so reticent to share the knowledge of his wife's condition. The very least she could do in the circumstances was to take Riley's beloved studio and keep it thriving.
The first task, she decided, was to inject a little more capital into it. The Christmas season had been unusually lucrative for the Shanachie, giving her a little more money to play with than she had been expecting, and once maintenance, wages, and all the other little costs were dealt with, 'Taya found she had plenty to set aside into a separate account for the use of the studios. That left her with the conundrum of what to do with the students.
The jazz, tap, and modern dancers all had their opportunities to take to the stage in the Shanachie Theater Company's productions - often musicals, requiring specialist dancers in the chorus. But the ballet dancers ....now they were a difficulty. Riley had taught them herself for a long time, and they were grieving for the loss of Madame Lo. Ordinarily, 'Taya would have approached Katarina Smith and the Rhy'Din Ballet Troupe for assistance there, but part of her rebelled against it. She had been a part of the foundation of the Black Cat Studio. She should do something to keep the dreams of the little danseurs alive.
There was always room in the Shanachie's schedule for a few ballets throughout the year, and a little variety never did anyone any harm. There was also all that room on the top level of the theater - currently a wide open space, but easily converted into living quarters. She bit her lip thoughtfully. Was she really thinking about starting up a Ballet Company now"
Of course, she couldn't run that herself. It had been many years since Mataya De Luca had danced ballet, and though she could still get en pointe it was painful to watch. No, she'd need a true ballet expert, someone who could visualize a performance, who could choreograph and probably perform in it, too. As much as she admired the fierce Madame who now taught the three ballet levels at the studio, Mataya knew she wouldn't be able to cope with all that. And besides, she would have her hands full bringing the students up to the right level to be auditioned for the Ballet Company, anyway.
That was a good plan, she knew. To attach the Black Cat Studios to the Shanachie companies would give the dancers and learners involved something to aim for, something to hope for, far better than the twice annual showcases that were currently the norm. Of course, that would insist upon a ballet company to inspire the ballet dancers, but 'Taya had a feeling that wouldn't be too difficult to arrange. And as she came to that decision, a name came to mind.
Of course. Why hadn't she thought of him before? If Tony was at a loose end, he could do worse than jete over to Rhy'Din and do a favor for his little sister. Especially since 'Taya was in a position to let him make a lot of the decisions. He had the contacts to be able to pull a few strings and get a few principals from the Earth circuit, too, names that might be recognized, expertise in the craft that couldn't really be bought. It didn't need to be a big company, but something for the little and not so little danseurs of Riley's studio to aspire to.
Smirking to herself, 'Taya hunted about on the desk for her telephone, going through the operator for a direct connection to her own Earth. To a number she hadn't dialled in a while. Tony would be the perfect choice, provided Elena's little problem hadn't caught up with him and broken his legs yet.
Never in a million years would she had expected Riley to pass her beloved studio onto her. It wasn't a thought that had ever occurred to her. After all, who could possibly have predicted that the vibrant and always active Mrs Lo would succumb to whatever it was that had put her in the coma in the first place" 'Taya was still angry that she hadn't known what was going on, but she could understand why David had been so reticent to share the knowledge of his wife's condition. The very least she could do in the circumstances was to take Riley's beloved studio and keep it thriving.
The first task, she decided, was to inject a little more capital into it. The Christmas season had been unusually lucrative for the Shanachie, giving her a little more money to play with than she had been expecting, and once maintenance, wages, and all the other little costs were dealt with, 'Taya found she had plenty to set aside into a separate account for the use of the studios. That left her with the conundrum of what to do with the students.
The jazz, tap, and modern dancers all had their opportunities to take to the stage in the Shanachie Theater Company's productions - often musicals, requiring specialist dancers in the chorus. But the ballet dancers ....now they were a difficulty. Riley had taught them herself for a long time, and they were grieving for the loss of Madame Lo. Ordinarily, 'Taya would have approached Katarina Smith and the Rhy'Din Ballet Troupe for assistance there, but part of her rebelled against it. She had been a part of the foundation of the Black Cat Studio. She should do something to keep the dreams of the little danseurs alive.
There was always room in the Shanachie's schedule for a few ballets throughout the year, and a little variety never did anyone any harm. There was also all that room on the top level of the theater - currently a wide open space, but easily converted into living quarters. She bit her lip thoughtfully. Was she really thinking about starting up a Ballet Company now"
Of course, she couldn't run that herself. It had been many years since Mataya De Luca had danced ballet, and though she could still get en pointe it was painful to watch. No, she'd need a true ballet expert, someone who could visualize a performance, who could choreograph and probably perform in it, too. As much as she admired the fierce Madame who now taught the three ballet levels at the studio, Mataya knew she wouldn't be able to cope with all that. And besides, she would have her hands full bringing the students up to the right level to be auditioned for the Ballet Company, anyway.
That was a good plan, she knew. To attach the Black Cat Studios to the Shanachie companies would give the dancers and learners involved something to aim for, something to hope for, far better than the twice annual showcases that were currently the norm. Of course, that would insist upon a ballet company to inspire the ballet dancers, but 'Taya had a feeling that wouldn't be too difficult to arrange. And as she came to that decision, a name came to mind.
Of course. Why hadn't she thought of him before? If Tony was at a loose end, he could do worse than jete over to Rhy'Din and do a favor for his little sister. Especially since 'Taya was in a position to let him make a lot of the decisions. He had the contacts to be able to pull a few strings and get a few principals from the Earth circuit, too, names that might be recognized, expertise in the craft that couldn't really be bought. It didn't need to be a big company, but something for the little and not so little danseurs of Riley's studio to aspire to.
Smirking to herself, 'Taya hunted about on the desk for her telephone, going through the operator for a direct connection to her own Earth. To a number she hadn't dialled in a while. Tony would be the perfect choice, provided Elena's little problem hadn't caught up with him and broken his legs yet.