Will You Dance with Me?

Will you dance with me? I've been watching for a while, and I've seen a lot of fancy footwork, but you stand out as the best dancer. Are in you in charge here? You help so many of the other dancers, I was wondering. See that couple over there? They're one of the best pairs out here and I see them working with you all the time. They've been teaching me to dance, but I'm clumsy and awkward and haven't learned very well. Some day I would like to dance as beautifully as they do.

Mary, over there, tells me I need to find a good partner, or lots of partners, and says I'll learn something new from each one. But though she looks so pretty out there, she doesn't really have the steps down or move with much elegance. All the people you've worked with are so different; there's such a grace and joy in their movements that everyone else is just trying to imitate. The others learned the steps just by watching and I tried that but I keep stepping on toes and losing the beat. The steps look easy but there is so much to think about and there must be things that I don't see. I'm awful to dance with, I know. You've seen my disastrous attempts, no doubt. I like to lead, and be in charge. It's hard for me to let somebody else tell me where to go and what to do. But I'm sure if anybody could teach me to be a good follower, it's you. You seem to be able to teach anybody anything. You could even teach me to be more sensitive and flexible; to relax and take cues instead of holding every muscle tensely and going my own way.

I wish those two by the window had let you help them. I saw you offer. They look like they're fighting, they put so much force into the dance. They are going to hurt each other. I've danced like that before and it only leaves you sore.

Sorry about my running commentary on the dancers. It's easy to see what other people are doing wrong and hard to see my own faults. It seems like a huge request, but I know I'll never be as good a dancer as I'd like without help, and you seem to be the only one who could teach stubborn, obstinate me. I don't normally ask other people to dance, but I'll gladly make an exception for you, if it doesn't seem too forward. Will You dance with me?