Dancing with Grisha

Grisha has no one to teach with since Nina and he no longer teach together. He borrows women from the class to demonstrate techniques.

Sue looks lovely in his embrace. She tucks her cheek against the hollow of his shoulder, and her hair curtains her face. They demonstrate a step once, twice, again. He leads her out of the step into a turn, and suddenly we see her. She is radiant! She looks like a child who has just torn the wrapping off the most perfect gift.

Grisha opens his mouth to explain the technique. He's stopped by the fact that all eyes are on Sue. A woman in the class asks What's with you?

I LOVE dancing with Grisha! she says.

There's a pause. Grisha ducks his head. He is inconsequential. This moment is all about the bliss of a follower in the thrall of a great lead. Oh, let's be honest. He's sexy as hell, and it's more than his competence that has Sue in his thrall.

If this were anyone less genuine, this moment would be extremely tacky. Sue's artlessness brings us all into the moment with her. Like a scent that evokes a sweet memory, her reaction stirs in us the reactions we've had, her honesty invokes our own.

We all laugh, except Grisha, who turns a self-effacing smile upon his shoes. You get the sense he might like it if his hair were long enough to curtain his face. Sue would like to stop smiling, but the radiance won't let her. Self-conscious about this, she giggles.

The pause is brief. The demonstration resumes, Grisha leading expertly, Sue dancing beautifully, her smile incandescent.