He dances, spine erect, a firm weather eye on observers. He tries to indicate when it's time to move accross the floor or spin. She's counting the steps in her head- remembering how she's supposed to move her feet and hips but not move her head. Her lips move a little. He tries to lead her to better parts of the floor, but she is stubborn and getting pretty good at this one part of the dance. He dances with her because she's a better dancer than anyone else he knows- and he tries dancing with everyone else- and she dances with him because she loves to dance.
I went to Cuervito's wedding this weekend, and there was dancing. There was long established couple dancing. It was awesome- it came at the point where most of my social functions shut straight down so I was primed to sit quietly and watch. (First I get snippy about having my picture taken, then I start scamming table favors, then I sit quietly in the corner and watch people dance. I will be doing this for all weddings from here on out.)
One couple danced a simple step and scanned the rest of the room. They'd speak to each other in soft voices and direct the other's attention to points of interest.
Another danced a complicated and syncopated two step with allocations for aches and joints that no longer bend like they should. I like to think- they moved like they'd worked very hard all their lives, and this other person was more reliable, more trusted, than their own bodies. The height difference meant that both of them looked into middle distance.
Another danced like they believed they were always the stars of their lives. I can't explain why- but they acted like everyone was always watching them, and they must please their public. They were gracious, but they'd stop to gaze obviously into one another's eyes.
My favorite was a couple who danced and danced. They knew steps for half the songs that were played and would circle the dance floor, sometimes in eachother's arms, sometimes side by side, dancing. They grinned at each other when one of them missed a step (it took some looking to see that's what they had done) and grinned when they managed something particularily difficult. The delight they took in one another was palpable. It brought tears to my tired and slightly inebriated eyes. I can only hope that someday C and I dance like that.
I really should learn how to dance.
