There’s Leah staring dreamily off into space (Probably fantasizing her and Andrei gettin’ it on!) while Kay’s wearing the sparkly retro purple. Alex has left SFBA at this point in the series to attend Berkeley so I don’t know who that other model is supposed to be.

Sophie Potter is twelve years old, she’s the new boarder arrived to take Alex’s place, she’s SFBA’s latest prodigy and Leah’s #1 fan. Leah refuses to let all of these changes bother her and does her best to make Sophie feel welcome.

The very next day Leah gets a big break (what, another one?) in her dance career. She’s been hand-picked, specially selected by Madame Preston HERSELF, to dance with the Bay Area Ballet in a big production, no audition required. There’s also a special birthday gala for M Preston coming up and Leah’s friends talk her into participating where she’ll dance in two different pieces which will require more time out of her already busy schedule.

The next few days are a busy whirlwind of classes, study and rehearsals for Leah while everyone at SFBA raves over Sophie’s brilliant dancing. They tease Leah about her new competition but this only makes Leah want to work harder and consequently makes her appear even more stuck up to her friends. For example, Kay is choreographing a modern dance piece for the gala. Leah, more accustomed to the discipline of classical ballet, is griping and complaining throughout. This is a scene I remember well. I suppose pity is all that stops Kay’s hand from slapping Leah because Kay is the only best friend Leah has left at SFBA now that Alex is gone.

Madame Preston summons Leah to the Opera house to watch the company’s benefit performance of Romeo and Juliet in the company box. Andre Levintoff is there and I find it strange that he doesn’t sit next to his own fiancé, Claire DuParc (I keep wanting to type Claire de Lune from Debussy) while Leah does. Claire tells Leah about the latest rumor going around. Since Alex forfeited her dance career for college life, Leah is now next in line to dance the role of Juliet with the company’s upcoming spring tour. Leah can’t believe her luck, not yet sixteen and Madame wants to cast her as a professional ballerina with the company! Leah resolves to work harder than ever on her dancing.

Alex surprises Leah at the company party by tapping her shoulder. She’s cut her hair and is wearing new clothes looking very grown-up and different. They are delighted to see each other after almost three weeks and begin playing catch up. Alex chastises Leah for taking on so much and turning into a workaholic and drops the name James Cummings. Leah bristles and is angry to be compared to her former dance partner. Alex is only concerned Leah might hurt herself (foreshadowing!) like James did. (see book #2, Center Stage)

It’s very late when Leah arrives back at the boardinghouse and hears Sophie crying in her room. Sophie’s upset over the SFBA atmosphere. She fears she’ll never make any friends. The competition and jealousy is just more than the poor twelve year old can take. Sophie tells her all the girls were talking about Leah tonight while she was at the ballet, saying mean things about her and it makes her cry. Leah brushes Sophie’s hair, reassuring her it’s just talk and no one really meant it. Leah has her own private cry on the stairs because her friends think she’s turning into a snob, which is true.

While rehearsing by herself in an empty studio, Leah overhears Kay talking with Katrina and Finola in the office on the other side of the wall where Kay is criticizing Leah's dancing and attitude a painful reminder to Leah of her conversation with Sophie from the night before. Upset, she storms off to her next rehearsal. Leah decides she’ll sacrifice friendship for her dancing and if everyone wants to think of her as a stuck up snob, let them, they’ll all be sorry when she’s famous!

Later, at Dance Indigo rehearsals, Leah hears her name coupled with Sophie Potter’s during a discussion between the director and M Preston. Twelve is the new fifteen. The director wants Leah out and Sophie in. Hearing this, Miss Drama Queen totally loses it and screams quits! Leah’s a serious dancer, not a piece of meat and she’s not gonna take it anymore! Exit stage left, sobbing.

Leah, aren’t you overreacting maybe just the tiniest bit? Come to think of it, has Leah ever acted ANY OTHER WAY whenever someone looks at her cross eyed and dares to criticize her dancing?

Madame finds Leah amidst a pile of tissues in the dressing room, tells her she’s perfect for this role in Dance Indigo and she’ll not let the director of the company talk her out of replacing Leah with Sophie just to satisfy the media. Madame also clears up the rumor over Leah dancing Juliet with the company. It’s not true, but maybe in another year or so. This cheers Leah up considerably and she decides maybe she won’t quit dancing just yet.

Leah attends a modern dance workshop with her friends. She’s encouraged to use her classical training not fight it. Leah feels she now understands what Kay was trying to show her about modern dance. The workshop is a success. Kay and Leah stay up almost all night so Kay can choreograph a whole new dance for the gala. Both are exhausted but their friendship has been rekindled. Leah is feeling better about everything now.

It’s the night of Madame’s birthday gala. Despite the warning of a slick floor Leah begins marking the steps for her first dance, then throws herself into it. In the middle of a triple attitude turn, her leg goes out from under her and Leah lands hard on the floor. She tries to stand up but blacks out instead.

Leah comes to in the hospital. Alex is there. So is Madame who informs Leah that Sophie and Diana will be filling in for her. Leah has torn some ligaments in her ankle, it’s uncertain whether she’ll ever be able to dance again.

And that’s the cliffhanger ending which is the only reason to read this book. Leah does have her prima-donna moments but she's a fun character to read about. The helpful ballet glossary at the end is also included in this book. ( )