Outside the Limelight Quotes

“A surprising surge of affection for all of them came over Rebecca. What incredible, resilient creatures dancers were. What tortured, driven, stubborn, exhausted marvels.   Arpeggio”
― Terez Mertes Rose, Outside the Limelight

“Then, as if he’d figured out what produced the maximum reaction in her, he switched back to Chopin. Just like that night in her childhood, the music slipped past her defenses and produced a deep contraction inside her, equal parts pain and pleasure. It went deeper still, until the tears began to rise, and she could only sit there, crying, trying to display only her expressionless left side so he wouldn’t notice. She’d been numb and it had felt good. Okay, not good. But safe. Manageable. He kept playing, soulful, stirring pieces that seemed chosen for their ability to pierce her heart deeper, deeper. She was crying audibly now, and he stopped and regarded her impassively. It couldn’t have been more awkward. She worked to compose herself and only then did she look up and meet his eyes. “Well,” he said, “I think it’s safe to say that dance is not done with you yet.” She stared at him in disbelief. “You did this on purpose. Tried to provoke a reaction.” “I suppose I did.” What a horrible, disreputable person he was. No wonder Misha had seemed anxious about having him around this weekend. “That was a pretty shitty thing to do.” “Not at all,” he replied. “I was just helping you see where you stand with your art. You need it. It nourishes you. That’s not going to go away just because you’re sidelined for a year or two.” “Two years?” She wasn’t sure which appalled her more, his words or his casual attitude. “Whatever. Point being, you’re still a dancer. It couldn’t be more obvious. That gorgeous body of yours, the way it moves. The way you’re sitting there now, all swept away by the music. You’re a dancer. You can’t not be one. Ever.” The truth of this, the twin emotions of fragile hope and crushing despair, crashed into her. He was right. And right then, the truth hurt. Now that the numbness was gone, it all hurt. The tears rose up again and spilled out. She heard Misha come in through the front door. David looked anxious. “Look, Dena. I just want to make sure you’re looking at the issue clearly.” Misha”
― Terez Mertes Rose, Outside the Limelight

“It was because she could be fully herself with Ben, and not hide Anders stuff, or Dena stuff, or who she was at her core, and sometimes the relief of sharing your deepest self with another human being became the biggest gift of all. “See”
― Terez Mertes Rose, Outside the Limelight

“But something inside her, the tiniest flicker of optimism, rose up from the ashes. She’d get through this and find her way back home.”
― Terez Mertes Rose, Outside the Limelight

“Five minutes later the makeup artist told Dena to smile, the tiniest bit, on the right side, as she worked busily on Dena’s left side. “There,” she said, stepping back when she was done. “Smile small, just like that, when you’re onstage.” Rebecca, returning, stopped in her tracks. “Holy shit,” she said in a stunned voice. “You’re smiling.” The mirror held to Dena’s face revealed perfect shadowing and contouring and there it was, a little smile on her paralyzed left side, even laughter wrinkles around her eyes to show merriment. “Oh,” Dena whispered, and tears welled up on her good side. “No tear, no tears!” the makeup artist exclaimed. “Don’t mess up the makeup!” April”
― Terez Mertes Rose, Outside the Limelight

“This one is the Andante Moderato from his sixth symphony. It’s uplifting. Way uplifting. We won’t have you listen to the rest of the symphony—it’s brutally tragic, dark, driving.” “How”
― Terez Mertes Rose, Outside the Limelight