The dawn bloomed pale and lavender, hues of pink on diaphanous clouds high in the atmosphere, black tree branches and black crows stark contrasts. Swollen and thick and high in its banks the river rolled beneath its deceptively smooth surface, turmoil barely perceptive under the bright black and coppery and oxide green river skin. Lights from the bridge and buildings reflect against the dark liquid glass, shapes of trees and structures taking on dreamlike qualities of some foreign enchanted realm. The inhabitants, clothed in green reeds and golden algae, drift in the river’s depths. There swim the forgotten souls of those who have succumbed to the river’s treachery, mermaids with translucent blue skin and matted hair crowned with trapped bubbles.

Last night was an oddity, something from somewhere else, unfathomable. Faces looked hidden and dark with secrets or worries, privacy was violated, the moon troubled the world with long shadows. Oh please do not withdraw from me, do not doubt me, the song in your heart is my favorite melody and I don’t ever forget the harmony. Let us not enter the vicious cycle. A thief came as ladies danced and stole small bits of metal and plastic that become so strongly connected to identity and I think it’s both absurd and worrisome.

Dance class last night felt absolutely wonderful, and was challenging, both physically and mentally. There are so many tricky weight-shift motions that are counter-intuitive to the body’s natural momentum, stepping left rather than right, or landing on the right foot and shifting the weight to the left foot so quickly it’s imperceptible, to step out again with the right foot. It adds depth and interest to dance, both for dancer and audience. It’s like sleight of hand, or optical illusions, and adds that element of surprise.

The class was full of dancers who have been studying for years, who rarely falter, and the energy of serious intent and concentration of mind-over-matter in that room is almost palpable. It really is a thrill to see all the bodies moving in unison. Sidewise to the left, pause, sidewise to the right, pause, spin to the left, arms sweep up and around like a propeller, pause facing left, kick back pull in, and step sidewise to the right, pause, sidewise to the left, pause, spin to the right, arms sweep up and around like a propeller, pause facing right, kick-back pull-in, and step sidewise opposite again.

Fast fast fast, so the centrifugal spin sends the hair flying and the arms swing quickly and momentum drives the whole thing to a sudden halt when the kick forces the energy into the opposite direction. It’s like swirling water.