Stevie’s Big Challenge  2-5-23

 

Stevie was considered a prodigy within the

Convent {a venue is called a Convent within the Order when it’s a separate homestead with a variety of uses. It has a Temple & education facilities as well as all the amenities a home should have.} 

This article is copyrighted Rasa Von Werder, 2023.  It is to be part of the book ‘Church of Women’

        As explained before, he was a whiz at learning & to the grownups, declared ‘best dancer.’ But the kids – mostly girls – preferred Marjorie. She was their Hera who could dethrone Stevie to be #1.

Conflicts broke out. There were arguments, disputations, declarations of this or that. Why Marjorie was better, why Stevie was, on & on. Finally one day it came to a head.

Marjorie’s Mom was an English teacher & pubic speaker. She’d been published & once toured the country promoting her novel. {It was a young lady tale about her years at Vassar.}

All the kids were encouraged to speak publicly – part of the comprehensive education set up by the Foundress. They were asked from the age six to speak on stage or in front of the class – little things at first, like what they liked to eat, what kind animals they loved, what they did today & what they planned to do tomorrow. This graduated to what they thought about subjects they were studying, how they thought they could become good at their sport or dance, then higher subjects that touched upon the meaning of life & remarks about the doctrine & practices of the Order.

Marjorie’s Mom was especially eager for her to be highly respected & loved. She felt Marge was being

 

somewhat cheated out of ‘first place’ in the Convent & on her next opportunity to recite, she should pipe up about that. The Mom coached Marge on the important principles to be voiced & rehearsed her over & over. Now the chance came.

        All had gathered for a dance class, the Elders were there as there were some demonstrations the teacher wanted them to see how the students had progressed. After that was the ‘sit down’ dancing everyone liked so many came early. Most of the fifty inhabitants of the Convent were there.

        Before class started the teacher asked if anyone wished to speak nor make an announcement. Marjorie raised her hand & was given the stage.

        She walked up confidently, even defiantly & began,

        “Our religion is one of female supremacy. Women are loved & respected as superior to men, with good reason.

       And so now, I cannot understand why I must be measured against a male, who in our religion is an inferior, & he is treated as if he is equal to me or even better & I resent being compared to him.

       I want this settled once & for all, that I am better than Stevie, & that is it. I don’t want to be in a contest with him every day.”

 

        The Members were shocked – this is an eleven-year old girl who had never spoken like this. They had not known she felt this way.

        The C.O. stepped forward & spoke,

        “Stevie, have you anything to say?”

       

 

Stevie was as shocked as anyone but as we said, a prodigy. He pulled himself together & said,

        “I agree with all the beliefs of our religion including that females are superior to males because of their two X chromosomes. We all accept that.

        But it doesn’t mean that all females are better than all males in all things.

        Even though Marjorie has two X chromosomes & I only have one, I’m not sure if Marjorie is a better dancer than me.

        We’re both good & to end this conflict, can we have a dance off & whoever wins, wins, & whoever loses takes it in a sportsmanlike fashion? I am ready for the challenge.”

         The C.O. came forward & said,

        “Clear the stage. I declare a contest to see who is #1 – Stevie or Marjorie. I will play the music, which will be unknown to them ahead of time. There will be between two to four minutes each composition & may the best woman or man win.”

        “And whoever wins, wins, & no more disputes. Everyone take your places,”                                  

       & she goes to the computer. The challenger, Marjorie, takes her place. She moans inside when she hears, from Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet, a dreary strain called ‘Dance of the Knights.’

        It’s like a drone, you have to be inventive, imaginative to make it interesting. It’s a piece that drags on without

 

highlights. Stevie does equal time & also strains to make it lively, with great effort. The best part is when she ended it after two minutes – no one knows who won.

        Once again, Marge takes her place. Ah, it’s a thumbs up, from John Strauss II, a type of dance called Czardas, Ritter Pazman, Opus 441. The first half is lyrical, slow, the second half strong & rousing. Teacher plays the entire piece which is over four minutes, so they are both out of breath when finished.

        Marge is exquisite, so graceful, like an angel wafting on clouds in part one, but part two, Stevie begins his leaps & he can jump much higher than her, so it’s apples & oranges.

        Teacher knows they must now recoup, as when people dance on stage, it looks easy to an audience, but they are emoting with every ounce of breath & ballet stars sometimes when leaving the stage, fall to the floor exhausted. She holds off from starting the music for a minute.

        Now the climax. Everyone gasps. It’s the marvelous ‘can can’ from Offenbach’s ‘Orpheus in the Underworld.’

        Both performers know this is short but faster than hell & must pull out all the stops.

        The audience even jumps to the tune, everyone is excited.

        Marjorie begins & she knows there isn’t much time, she starts showing off right away, jumping high in the air & landing in a split! Then she does some wide circle twirls, like big circles that end in fancy leg lifts, & she does her best leap again, & again, & again, always falling into a split, then wide circle leaps, even backward & lifts one leg back & bends it to her head for the exit! The audience cheers & cheers, this is spectacular.

        Can Stevie match or top this? He also puts his best foot forward, running into leaps like Baryshnikov, higher & higher, then stops for the amazing twirls called pirouettes, it seems the twirls will never end & the audience begins to fear for him like he might never stop & get dizzy-sick at the end, but he breaks out of it & does a couple of wild leaps where he does a split in mid air, end of story. Has he won?

 

        The C.O. comes forward now & says it will be decided by applause. She calls Marjorie forward & there’s wild screams & yells & frantic clapping.

        Then Stevie, the same thing & he gets a reaction just as loud, although, as was said before, the kids prefer Marge, the adults like Stevie.

        Both the Teacher & C.O. can’t figure whose applause was greater.

        They call forward the Chief, who’s sitting in the middle, away from the crowd. They ask for the applause again, she’s listening.

        She comes up on the stage & says,

        “The answer is obvious. From where I sat I could hear a balance from both sides. Neither one is preferred to the other, they are both appreciated equally. It’s a tie.”

        The audience approves, they are satisfied. Both sides did not want to lose, but this is OK, both are winners, neither one loses. Everyone is happy.

 

     To this lovely conclusion a leader of the ‘Good time Charlene’ ritual comes forward & sits on the edge of the stage. Everyone takes their seats in chairs or leaning on chairs or leaning on the stage. Most younger ones are on the stage, as they don’t mind moving their entire bodies, while some adults need to sit for comfort. And once more, the Charleston begins & all start moving, who said laughter is the best medicine?