The Woman With The World At Her Feet

 

The Woman With The world At Her Feet 

By Paul McCann

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dIN5JYUJA

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Hanna had grown up a popular girl around the Silver Mines . During her teenage years she had started to acquire a following of admirers who loved to watch her dance around the camp fires every night . When she danced she was like a wild flame .

Hanna’s fame was growing and there were many who envied her as the undisputed Irish Dancing Champion of the world . Hanna had held that title for the last 5 years and things had become much easier for her parents Maisy and Sean who were very much respected by the miners and travellers . It was such a relief to see that her parents never had to work as hard as before .

With the extra money Hanna was getting from her Irish dancing school she was able to help her parents . Sean had a number of miner now who were working for him on the mines and Maisy had a home instead of a tent .

Hanna’s dance school paid was very popular . It was open twice a week and her established students were hungry to learn some new steps while her new students were finding their feet with some beginners steps .

One week a young man unobtrusively walked in the door of the dancing school . Hanna never noticed slip into a quiet corner where he stood appreciating the beauty of this butterfly without wings . He was memorized with her .  Hanna was so busy with her students she was unaware there was a visitor watching . He stood there until the lesson was completed and made his way over . With her back to him he approached her and coughed a few times .

Hanna turned around and he said

“Do you think you could dance on ice ?“:

Hanna looked at him and replied .

“Once I danced in the Irish sunlight, on an frozen river . Every time I stepped forward  I was thrown back two , so I turned and danced backwards all the way across to the other side of the river .“

He laughed and then he said ,

“Hanna , my name is Dermot and I have travelled from America to meet you . I have heard a lot about you and have a proposal to offer you .“

Hanna seemed interested and said .

“A proposal from America is it ,. Well then Dermot , you better tell me all about that . “’

“They have told me you’re the best Irish dancer in the world and after watching you this evening I must agree . The proposal is for you to be the star in a new movie called The Woman With The World At Her Feet . It’s the story of a woman who started as an Irish dancer and then changed direction to begin figure skating and ended up the World Champion . After that she began ballroom dancing where she fell in love with a guy who became her partner ”

Dermot pointed to himself and stopped talking and started ballroom dancing with an invisible partner . Hanna watched him as he gracefully glided across the floor and turning and weaving from one direction to the other .

She felt a passion for this and even though she had never done anything like this before she proceeded to engage him on the floor .

They danced in the light for a while together as if time had stood still .

Hanna spoke and she said

“So what do you think Dermot , did I pass the audition ?”

Dermot replied

I am impressed Hanna, who taught you to dance like that ?
“The way I dance cannot be taught . It’s a gift ,  I feel it , I see it and I dance it

And most of all I love it .“

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“ Come to New York with me Hanna . You’re a star and the world needs to see you and appreciate you . The script is finished and shooting will start as soon as you say yes and we arrive on the set . “

Hanna smiled and replied .

“:I have always wanted to go to New York  .So it’s a yes from me as long as my parents can come too. “

Dermot reached out his hand and said

“:You’ve got a deal , lets shake on it .“

Hanna spat on the palm of her hand and they shook and the sounds of their  laughter echoed all around the room .

A week later Hanna and her parents were in Hollywood .

They were given a new home to live in which was part of the contract as well as a salary that ensured they would never have to work another day on the mines as long as they lived .

Hanna was given a set of ice skates and brought to a rink .The first time she stood on the ice she felt at home and made such and impression on everyone who was there. It was as if she had wings and she flew from one side of the rink to the other without fear of falling. She was gaining an audience who came in one by one to look at this very gifted dancer on the ice. People were asking who is she and where did she come from.

When Hanna stopped everyone there applauded.

As fate had it the entire unrehearsed performance was captured on camera by the camera crew who were there getting a light check and some test footage. It was a magic moment for all who were there.

After that the hard work began . Late nights learning lines and  early mornings playing out the role of a woman with the world at her feet .

Finally the movie was finished and it was ready for release .

 

They say that change is a necessary thing and it enables growth as well as a new way of looking at things . Hanna had met change and adapted to it very quickly ,She had adjusted to the fact that she now had a fiancé called Dermot in her life and her parents were living life to the full with new friends and a new hobbies . They loved going to all the broad way shows and had become a little eccentric  in their ways but underneath that façade Hanna knew they were still the same people they always had been .

Hanna’s gift was something that people loved to watch . She danced in a way that brought happiness and excitement . From the Silver Mines in Australia she danced her way to the top and became the biggest attraction in show business . She was the woman with the world at her feet  .

 

 

The End