Studio B

The author uses Studio B as a symbol of disruption. When Marie accidentally lights the space on fire, everything begins to change at The Durant School of Dance, and in Dara's once-stable life. Throughout the novel, Studio B remains in a state of disarray. In this way, the studio is a constant reminder to Dara that there are some things she cannot control, and that change and disruption are a central part of the human experience.

Mother's Attic

The attic once belonging to the sisters' mother where Marie moves at the start of the novel, symbolizes the past. Dara is hurt that Marie left their family home, but she is more hurt that Marie dared to occupy their mother's old hiding place. With Marie living here, Dara feels that she is erasing her memories of their mother, and thus tainting her fantastical version of the...