The schedule for Shining Star ran tight, and the finals arrived right after the round that cut the field from twelve dancers down to six.
The finals were split into two separate rounds.
The first round paired each finalist with a guest partner of her own choosing, and only three of the six couples would advance to the solo round to fight for the title.
To make certain she reached that second round, Florence brought in the lead male dancer from her old company.
The two of them rehearsed until they had nothing left to give, pushing every step and every detail as far as it would go.
On the eve of the finals, Florence decided to take a single day off to stay sharp, and she brought Nancy out to explore the city.
By noon, the two of them wandered into a restaurant, where Nancy suddenly tor
