Instructions for Dancing

At her first practice, Evie learns that Maggie and Archibald, the studio owners, who have been married for over 40 years. Fifi greets Evie, while Maggie and Archibald check that she wasn’t bullied into entering the Danceball competition. Since Evie can’t explain wanting to stop her visions with the only lead she has, she assures them that she thinks dancing will be fun.

X walks into the studio, and Fifi announces he’s her partner. Evie and X banter for a while, with Evie stating X stole her bike, and he corrects her that he borrowed it. Maggie and Archibald grin like they’re watching sparks fly; the latter introduces Xavier as his grandson. After the couple leaves the room, Xavier comments that his grandparents have always been “lovey-dovey” and “won the love lottery when they found each other” (66). Evie makes a point to never watch Maggie and Archibald kiss.

Fifi instructs the pair with rigorous drills, starting with the bachata. As the lead, X steps on Evie’s toes a lot, and she can’t relax at his touch—since she finds him too attractive to get close to. Fifi scolds them often; after class, she makes an intensive schedule of daily practices.

X tells Evie that he wanted to help his grandparents, so he volunteered to compete because of his “say yes philosophy” that is “very freeing” (73).