Caroline Moss - Work It, Girl: Beyoncé Knowles: Rule the music scene like Queen

Written by
Caroline Moss

Illustrated by
Sinem Erkas

B eyonc Gisele Knowles was shy. That was the best word for it. Shy. During recess at school, when all of her classmates would pair off or play games in groups, Beyonc usually kept to herself. While the children talked and played, Beyonc watched them, wondering what it might be like to be able to not be so self-conscious about, well, everything! She was always worrying what people were going to think of her, and it made her anxious. She just liked to stay quiet and observe the world around her.

BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION DID NOT INTEREST BEYONC.

Beyoncs mom and dad, Tina and Mathew, noticed this. They thought it was okay for their daughter to be shybecause of course it is!but they were worried that she was missing out on some fun experiences because of her fear of putting herself out there. When Beyonc was seven years old, Tina had a brilliant idea.

Beyonc, her mom said to her one day after school with a big smile. I was thinking about signing you up for a dance class. What do you think?

A dance class? Beyonc repeated. Her palms began to get a little sweaty and she could feel her heart beating really, really fast. Hmmm She wiped her hands on her pants.

Even though the first feeling she felt deep in her belly was nervousness, the second feeling she felt was excitement, because she did like to dance and perform in her bedroom. Sometimes shed pretend her hairbrush was the microphone and that her little sister, Solange, was her backup dancer or singer. Did her mom know that? Had she ever heard them singing and dancing in the bedroom? She must have. Solange was not nearly as shy as Beyonc was. But dancing in front of other people? Just the thought of it made butterflies appear in Beyoncs stomach. A whole family of butterflies!

Think about it! said Tina.

So Beyonc thought and thought. She thought during breakfast, she thought during dinner, she thought during math class (whoops!). But still, she didnt know what to do. Yes? Or no? Try something new and possibly fail or embarrass herself? Or stay safe in her comfort zone?

SHE WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT AND DREAMED OF BEING ON STAGE. THE CROWD IN HER DREAMS CHEERED AND CLAPPED. SHE GOT A STANDING OVATION AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS TOSSED ROSES TO HER ON THE STAGE.

Beyonc awoke from her dreams beaming from ear to ear. She put on her slippers and walked downstairs to the breakfast table. She knew what she was going to tell her mom.

Okay, Ill try it. Beyonc announced. Ill try the dance class.

Her mother clapped her hands in joy. Her dad nodded his head in approval.

Thats great, Beyonc! Mathew gave his daughter a hug. When do classes start, Tina?

Tina Knowles checked her calendar, and flipped through some pages. Lets see, lets see, dance class She moved her fingers across the page. Aha! Next... Thursday! At 4:30 pm. After school.

Beyonc felt the butterflies come back again. This time she tried to tell herself that they werent nervous butterflies, but excited ones. It helped.

Boy, was she happy with the choice she made! Soon, Beyonc was dancing all the time. She would learn choreography in class and then go home and practice in her bedroom. Shed watch herself in the mirror in her bedroom to make sure she was getting the moves just right. Sometimes Solange would peek inside her bedroom from the hallway to watch her big sister.

You wanna learn? Beyonc asked Solange. She nodded.

Soon, Beyonc felt herself mastering the steps. Her teacher, Miss Darlette, would encourage her to move to the front of the room so that the other kids in the class could look to her if they needed help. When she performed on stage, she exuded confidence and ease. Her parents and sister looked at each other, smiling. They were so proud!

One day, Beyonc was sitting on the floor after class. She was stretching her legs to make sure she didnt get any cramps. Soon, she was the last kid in the room. Miss Darlette was at the tape player, when she noticed Beyonc and walked over to her, crouching down so that they were making direct eye contact.

Beyonc, I want to tell you something, Miss Darlette said. You are gonna be so big, the whole world is gonna know you.

I am? Beyonc looked at her with a smile.

Yes. You are.

I n no time, Beyoncs shyness was a thing of the past and she could not get enough of the spotlight on stage. Her parents were so excited. They loved to see Beyonc blossom! Soon, Beyonc and Solange were making up their own choreography in their bedrooms and singing as they danced. They didnt even mind when their parents would peek in the room to catch them performing. That might have embarrassed Beyonc before but not anymore.

When Beyonc was nine years old, she still hadnt shaken her love for dance and singing, but she was looking for a new challenge. Her dad had a great idea.

There are auditions for a girl group in downtown Houston next week, he told Beyonc on their way home from dance class one day. I think you should go for it.

THIS TIME BEYONC DIDNT NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HER ANSWER WOULD BE. IM IN! SHE EXCLAIMED.

The auditions were a little nerve-racking, because there were just so many girls there. All of them had talent and all of them wanted to be in the girl group. Beyonc felt those butterflies appear again. Were they nerves or excitement? She decided they could be both.

When Beyonc approached the judges she looked them right in the eye and smiled, like her dad had reminded her to do.

Hi, Im Beyonc! she said. Then she began her audition. She moved and grooved, nailed all of her steps, and hit all of her notes. When she was finished, she gave a quick bow and walked off stage.

You did awesome! Beyoncs dad said. Now lets see if it was enough to make the group.

If we need to see you again, we will call you! If you dont receive a phone call, it means that the competition was really strong this year and, unfortunately, you were not chosen, a voice boomed out from the front of the auditorium. Beyoncs dad squeezed her hand.