Write a story where an important conversation takes place during a dance.

Posted in Short Story on Jun 7, 2024

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✍️ 78 stories

“Never Let Her Go” by Katelynn Seavey

Submitted to Contest #254

Sequel to the last story, Let This Last Forever. Her hands play mindlessly with her pink ruffled dress. She wraps her fingers around the end of the pink silk bow attached to her hip as her eyes constantly scan the room for him. As she looks around the big gym floor the soft smile on her face seems to slowly downward at the feeling that coming tonight was a mistake. Kenzie can see all of her classmates being twirled and swung around, their laughter and giggles echo repeatedly in her head as if they are purposely mocking her. She wonders if ...

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“I Cross My Heart” by David Ward

Submitted to Contest #254

Author's note: This story contains the lyrics to one of George Strait's most heartfelt and recognizable love songs. I don't own any rights to the song, although that would be really great for my bank account. (And despite what one character says out of anger, I really do love the song — cross my heart.)**** He never wanted to slow dance. In all my time spent with Mickey, I could never convince him to get out on the dance floor with me. He'd race out there for all the regular wedding bangers like 'Takin' Care of Business' and always put on qu...

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“Rumor Has It” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #254

Dust rises behind George Pentland’s carriage as he arrives at his nephew’s manor in Wiltshire. The date is August 8, 1889, the significance being it is his nephew’s eighteenth birthday. Lord Joseph Pentland of Wiltshire, to be exact. George has been Joseph’s legal guardian and overseer since Joseph gained the title at the tender age of eleven, when both his parents died in a horrible accident. George, a tall, good-looking gentleman in his early sixties with a large, well-maintained grey mustache, is met at the door by th...

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“The Prince” by Dakota Dunston

Submitted to Contest #254

The kings' castle was full of laughter and light. It bounced off the walls and spread the joy of the night. The happiness of the night was contradicting the natural gloomy and goth look of the castle. Hundreds of people dancing, eating, and drinking till their life's content. A beautiful young women stepped out of a carriage with the help of her brother. She wore a dress layered dress, each a descending shade of green. The neckline being heartshaped and a dark green corset looking bodice. Her dark brown hair was twisted into braids that...

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“Anomaly” by Madeline McCourt

Submitted to Contest #254

Brightly clothed bodies swirl through Leila’s vision, all loud music and swinging hips. With her hands in the air, she moves to the beat, dancing through the crowd. Her face is pink from the stuffy room and too many free drinks. She loves the free feeling that comes with a night out. It’s all syrupy thoughts and sultry eye contact. A blue spotlight swings overhead, flashing over her eyes. When they focus a young man is standing before her, watching intently. Leila smiles and sways with him. She can’t see his face well in the dim club lightin...

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“A Waltz is Not a Cotillion” by Beverly Goldberg

Submitted to Contest #254

Emmaline still could not believe she was in London for The Season. She’d known since she turned sixteen that it wouldn’t happen. Her father’s gambling had left them almost penniless. They’d sold what few things were left--her beloved piano, a few paintings her mother had brought with her upon her marriage, and some pieces of silver that her mother had hidden when her father started selling whatever he could find to gather funds for his gambling. The only things that gave their family any relief was that they’d managed to keep that he’d...

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“A softly spoken melody” by Alva Osterlind

Submitted to Contest #254

The evening began with excitement. The folks of the ton milled around the ballroom, talking in high-pitched voices, laughing excessively to make sure the people around them could hear how much of a good time they were having. She was standing arm in arm with him about to start the first dance of the ball. The person she was certain she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Their bond signified both their friendship and their trust and she was proud to know that there would be no more doubts. Not after yesterday night, when promi...

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“A Dance to Remember” by Kirsten Fabish

Submitted to Contest #254

I smoothed out the wrinkles on my silk dress slowly and carefully, the dress felt soft and cool against my skin. Silk was much more luxurious than the leathers and armor I was used to wearing. This event was a long time coming and I was nervous as there had been celebrations like this before but never had I been permitted to be a part of it. My father would never allow it, it would be too embarrassing for him, for the world to see me and maybe even interact with me. I know he was just secretly hoping to marry me off tonight, maybe even scare...

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“Monsoon ” by Rosemary Tracy

Submitted to Contest #254

The June evening was sticky and fragrant, carrying laughter, music and the smell of charred corn and spiced meat through the air. Booths lined the street and the square with art, jewelry and knickknacks. Families with exhausted looking parents crowded around vendors of face-painting and kettle corn to wait their turn. Above us, the Jersey Lily balcony held beer-drinking patrons who overlooked the Main Street across from the ancient courthouse. Every so often the high pitched laughter of a table propping up several tipsy women in rhinestone b...

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“Midnight Waltz” by Fern Everton

Submitted to Contest #254

CW: This piece contains light profanity and mentions of violence. Viewer discretion is advised. This story and its title is inspired by the piece Midnight Waltz by David Garrett and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. I do not own anything of the piece and all rights belong to its rightful owners. “I said no dancing!” “You said no distractions.” A mischievous glint plays in Blue Jay’s eyes as he drags me onto the shiny, slick dance floor. In a panicked attempt to not crash into two other dancers, my heeled shoe snags the tool of my dres...

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“On Goldenrod” by Noah Tillier

Submitted to Contest #254

The most beautiful flowers tend to bloom their brightest in the gray fog of a downpour. Have you seen the dew play across the petals of the red rose or trail down the torso of the goldenrod and flush the yellow flowerlets with a kiss to the roots? The deep green, rich umber, and steely gray sound of rain resonated throughout the forest and across the brown rooftops of the hamlet of Vena. A poor young woman – whose wavy brown bangs were obscured by the sopping summer hat she wore – had finally entered the awning of one of the smaller houses. ...

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“The Plan” by John McPhee

Submitted to Contest #254

Ben Anderson held Sarah Tompkins close to his body as they swayed together to the rhythm of the slow song being played by the band at Jenny and Peter’s wedding. He could feel their hips moving in unison. He could smell her perfume, it smelled so sweet, so tempting. He was lost in the ‘what ifs’ of times past. Even if they’ve been good friends since college and attended each other’s wedding, that didn’t mean he didn’t still have thoughts about her. And maybe she had them about him. After all, it could be more than just flirting between the tw...

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“Debauched and Delirious” by Cajek Veilwinter

Submitted to Contest #254

One was only invited to the Obsidian Masquerade once in their life. The Masquerade itself was an endless affair, with several attendees spending portions of their interminable afterlives in attendance. Even in the city of Vulane, it was considered... less than appropriate... to attend.For the occasion, the young vixen Malina chose to embody the essence of the night sky, reflecting the eternal dance of stars and shadows that played out above Vulane on the streets above. Her dress was a flowing cascade of midnight blue silk, shimmering wi...

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“Shadows of Elegance” by Thomas Greer

Submitted to Contest #254

In the heart of the Montclair estate, where secrets whispered in the corridors and shadows danced in the flickering candlelight, Evelyn found herself drawn into a world of mystery and intrigue. Evelyn had grown up in the whirlwind of diplomatic circles, her childhood spent traversing the globe as her father fulfilled his duties as a respected diplomat. But beneath the polished exterior of her upbringing lay a yearning for something more—a desire to carve out her own path in a world dictated by tradition and expectation. Despite her privilege...

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“Better than I Know Myself” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #254

“Sierra, we should dance,” Jeff said without looking at her, trying his best to make it sound casual and platonic. The DJ had just put on “Better than I Know Myself”, one of his favourite Cole Steele songs.The DJ’s booth was underneath the basketball net that had the double doors that led outside. Next to the big speakers, he had a few effect lights that seconds ago had been throwing alternating colours around the gym in patterns that synced to the music. When Cole Steele had started, the lights had changed to a velvety purple that rol...

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Write a story where an important conversation takes place during a dance.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 78 stories

“Never Let Her Go” by Katelynn Seavey

“I Cross My Heart” by David Ward

“Rumor Has It” by Ralph Aldrich

“The Prince” by Dakota Dunston

“Anomaly” by Madeline McCourt

“A Waltz is Not a Cotillion” by Beverly Goldberg

“A softly spoken melody” by Alva Osterlind

“A Dance to Remember” by Kirsten Fabish

“Monsoon ” by Rosemary Tracy

“Midnight Waltz” by Fern Everton

“On Goldenrod” by Noah Tillier

“The Plan” by John McPhee

“Debauched and Delirious” by Cajek Veilwinter

“Shadows of Elegance” by Thomas Greer

“Better than I Know Myself” by C. Charles

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story at a Regency-themed fair.

Write a story where a rumor starts to spread. Your protagonist is either the topic or the source.

Write a story about two characters who start as mortal enemies but learn to embrace their differences.

Write a story in the format of a gossip column.

Contest #254

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

218

Contest entries

88

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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