222
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4
Italy, Rome. March 7, 2026.
Giovanna Rinaldi
Auditorium: Parco Della Danza
- Mia Bianchi? - a woman called out to my daughter.
- Yes?
- My name is Madison, I'm the director of the American Ballet Theatre school, it's a pleasure to meet you.
- Hello, Mrs. Madison, it's an honor to meet you.
- Just call me Madison, dear. Are you her mother?
- Yes, I'm Giovanna Rinaldi.
- From the construction company RBC?
- Yes.
- Aren't you married to Lorenzo Bianchi?
- Not anymore, I recently separated.
- I see, I was impressed by your performance Mia, why didn't you ever audition to join my school?
- I've been doing ballet since I was six and I didn't feel ready for it until now.
- Well I'd be flattered to have you at my school, do you intend to pursue a career?
- Yes, I do.
- At ABT you'll have an incredible chance and if you're as dedicated to your studies as you are to your dancing, you'll go far, darling.
- I don't know what to say. - Mia said with emotion.
- I spoke to your teacher and she told me that you wanted this.
- I really do, but no one apart from my family and Mel has ever told me how well I dance.
- You don't have to worry about that, I told you the truth. The ABT school is integrated with the high school and our requirement is that your grades are always high, the fees are different for the school and for ballet, plus there are the costs of housing, which is within ABT itself, but these bureaucratic issues we'll sort out later.
- It's a huge challenge for you daughter, you're going to have to move away from your family and everything you've built here, but it's a unique opportunity, it's your chance to pursue a career as a ballerina as you've always dreamed of since you were a child. - I said and she smiled at me
- I want it Madison. - she said with conviction.
- Great, I'll be expecting you in New York next month to register you and for you to get to know every bit of our school and if you still like it, you'll start in two years, sounds far away right? But it's not, our school is very busy and enrollment has to be done at least two years in advance.
- Wow, this is incredible, thank you for the opportunity. - Mia said, still ecstatic.
- Giovanna, talk to your daughter's teacher and she'll give you all the information you need, I have to go now and I need to talk to other dancers. Bye, darlings. - she said and left us alone.
- I can't believe this is happening, Mom.
- Well, try to believe it, my child, this is just the first of many dreams that you'll realize. - I said and we smiled.
I hugged Mia again, she's so happy that she forgot about Lorenzo for a while, dinner at my mother's restaurant was such a joy, our family was so happy that she got the chance to study at ABT, which is my little girl's dream, I promise that I will do everything in my power to make my daughters happy.