It is just four weeks until the annual ballet recital for the Ashton Ballet Academy and things are not going well for the ballerinas. The prima dancer, Elizabeth, has just had a major injury and is out for the season. Tall, slender Amy Small is catapulted into the lead ballerina role as Odette in the ballet, Swan Lake. She is not prepared for the part and is no Elizabeth Yet, she is the best dancer the troupe has left. Gutsy, emotional, dedicated Molly, a high school senior, is chosen by Miss Sylvie, the ballet academy instructor, to dance Odile, the Black Swan, a part Amy dearly wants to perform as well. Unfortunately, Molly doesn't dance so well but she commits her all to perform Odile as her last hurrah. Miss Sylvie, a wonderful 50-something instructor is over heard telling a parent, "It was either Molly or me. Whom would you have chosen?" Compounding the challenges, the troupe has been invited to perform for the 100th anniversary of the Ashton Normal School. Normally this might not be such a big deal, but the Small girls are the great-granddaughters of Benjamin Small, the founder and first headmaster of the historic school, now the University of Ashton. Furthermore, the stage in the performing arts center of the normal school, where the original dedication took place and where everyone has anticipated the centennial performances would be given, is in such poor shape that Miss Sylvie has declared the troupe absolutely cannot use it in its current condition. Mary Small, our heroine, who is still in middle school, is Amy's younger cousin, and also a ballerina. Mary is devastated by the turn of events but in true Mary Small fashion "grabs the bull by the horns and runs with it." "Out of nowhere" a talented, new ballerina appears during these trying times. Nonni, as they call her, has secrets of her own.