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Dance
My dance teacher always gives me a pep talk before competitions.
“Competitions are about having fun, not winning. It doesn’t matter where you place, just have fun!”
I don’t want to have fun. I want to be turned belly up and cut from vent to neck.
Split wide open.
Tell my stories across the golden ash floor.
I buy a second-hand midnight-blue ball gown glittering with hundreds of zircon crystal rhinestones. Every time I wear the dress I pick up the scent of the other dancer’s perfume. Pretend I’m her.
Not me.
Fox-trot. Slow waltz. Viennese waltz. Flying-around-the-room dances.
Wave-surfing dances.
Layers of sapphire chiffon float up and down, up and down as we spin, spiral and glide. The judges always say something nice and something constructive.
“Olé! Very dramatic. Tone your center for stronger balance
on turns, and watch footwork. You display such drama. You were meant to perform!”
Most of the other competitors are better than I am and I’m not good enough to place at the top but I want to make it into the semi-finals so I can dance all over again.
My mother loves watching the videos.
Oh how lovely, a dress full of stars! But watch the timing, darling, you’re a little fast on your turns.
Photo attributed to Christine Kerekes.
My dance teacher always gives me a pep talk before competitions.
“Competitions are about having fun, not winning. It doesn’t matter where you place, just have fun!”
I don’t want to have fun. I want to be turned belly up and cut from vent to neck.
Split wide open.
Tell my stories across the golden ash floor.
I buy a second-hand midnight-blue ball gown glittering with hundreds of zircon crystal rhinestones. Every time I wear the dress I pick up the scent of the other dancer’s perfume. Pretend I’m her.
Not me.
Fox-trot. Slow waltz. Viennese waltz. Flying-around-the-room dances.
Wave-surfing dances.
Layers of sapphire chiffon float up and down, up and down as we spin, spiral and glide. The judges always say something nice and something constructive.
“Olé! Very dramatic. Tone your center for stronger balance
on turns, and watch footwork. You display such drama. You were meant to perform!”
Most of the other competitors are better than I am and I’m not good enough to place at the top but I want to make it into the semi-finals so I can dance all over again.
My mother loves watching the videos.
Oh how lovely, a dress full of stars! But watch the timing, darling, you’re a little fast on your turns.
