Page 24 of Forbidden Dance
He comes forward and the light hits him.
It’s Blitz.
Today he’s wearing knee-length spandex shorts and a form-fitting tank. Both are charcoal gray. There is no muscle or bulge that isn’t perfectly delineated. My eyes glance where they shouldn’t and dart away.
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Oh, hey,” I say.
“You look beautiful up there,” he says.
Despite the strength and power I felt just a moment ago, I’m definitely melting now. “Thanks,” I squeak.
“What is that leap you just did? I’ve seen it in a dozen ballets.”
“Agrand jeté.”
He climbs up the steps to the stage. “How many steps do you take?”
“It depends on the dance leading up to the leap,” I say. “And how strong you are. Some can do it with just a step. I need some lead time.”
“Can you do it again?”
My face heats up from nervousness, but I say, “Of course.” I’m tempted to add that mygrand jetéis not perfect, but I swallow the words. Just let it be what it is.
I take a few steps back, then run lightly forward into the leap.
“That’s fantastic!” he says. He imitates me, jumping into the air.
He is powerful and takes greater flight than I did.
When he is back on the ground, he turns to me. “Did I do it right?” he asks with the eagerness of a young child.
“Mostly,” I say.
“Mostly!” He runs over to me and lifts me by the waist until my face is well above his head. “Mostly!” He expertly drops me sideways and catches my body, one hand beneath a knee and the other under my arm.
I’m breathless. He sweeps me out and sets me on my feet again.
“What was THAT called?” I ask.
“I have no idea!” he says. “I just felt like doing it. So tell me what I did wrong.”
I extend my arms. “Arm position is very important in agrand jeté,” I say, framing my face in the circle of my arms. “This is fifth position, but there are other popular arm extensions.” I extend one arm to the side and one straight up. Then I place one arm straight in front and one straight back.
“What did I do with my arms?” Blitz asks.
“They were sort of all over the place.” A laugh escapes.
“Amateur,” he says. “I’m just a damn amateur.”
“You’re currently the most famous dancer there is. You have your own show.”
“Used to have my own show.” He shakes his head. “Maybe learning ballet is a good use of my time.”
“We have a lot of good teachers here,” I say.
He spins in circles around me. I turn to him as he makes his way around. He’s amazing. His form. His energy. It’s one thing to see recordings on a laptop screen. It’s another one entirely to have him right in front of me.
“The whole world probably wishes they were me right now,” I say.
