Gabrielle stands in front of a full-length mirror and rolls her hips in a slow circle. The movement is supposed to be sexy, but it just looks awkward and jerky. She tries again and then again, but she feels like a rag doll. No matter what she does, she can't get it right.
There is a crack and whip curls around her calves. She jumps into the air and winces with pain. Her lower legs are covered in criss-cross welts from hours of what Anna, the dance teacher, calls a correction.
"Move your ass like you mean it and suck your fat waist in," Anna shouts. "What's wrong with you? Don't you want the customers to like you?"
Gabrielle sucks in her breath, straightens her back, and tries again. She pretends there's a hula hoop around her waist as she rolls her hips from side to side. Her reflection looks sweaty and rigid—nothing like the effortlessly sexy girls who dance throughout the club.