musingly inclined

This work was inspired by “Date a Girl Who Reads” and “Date a Girl Who Writes“, so be sure to check those two out as well!

Date a girl who dances. She won’t be easy to find because she’s always busy learning, teaching, preparing. She won’t be like the other girls you’ve dated. You won’t find her in the weary squalor of a bar. You won’t find her in the smoke, drunken sweat, and varicolored light of a nightclub. And, if you do find her, she won’t be engaged by your unsentimental trivialities.  Your pick-up lines and inward laugh will not amuse her.
 

If you’re lucky, you’ll find yourself in her studio. You’ll know when you see her. She’ll be standing there – watching, observing, absorbing – always listening to the cadence of song, practicing a new routine, immersed in the scene of it all. And because she’s so immersed, she’s always occupied, and why, even if you notice her, she may not notice you.
 

If you see her looking at you, look back and wait. If she looks away, it’s ok; keep looking at her. She’s a performer and, at the very least, will enjoy the attention. But, if you can get her to look at you and not look away, she wants to get to know you. She’s targeted you, pursuing you, inviting you. Once she catches your eye, once she hears your voice that first time, she begins her profile. She’s the one who will have your character in 10 seconds and have you completely profiled in 10 minutes. She doesn’t need to hear your story because she’s a dancer; she can follow your body language, hear changes in your voices tempo, and see the emotions hidden in your gaze. She’ll listen to what you have to say but is really looking for the nonverbal cues that will tell her who you really are.
 

After two weeks she’ll know you better than you know yourself.
 

Date a girl who dances because she’ll complement you perfectly. She dedicates weeks, if not months, for a few fleeting moments of success. She has an unwavering belief in her ability to be exceptional. And, if she chooses you as a partner, she’ll share that dedication and belief with you. Date a girl who dances because she’ll gracefully follow. But more importantly because, when life’s tempo becomes irregular, she’ll willingly lead.
 

Do it because a girl who dances understands syntax. Rhythm has taught her that moments of tenderness come in sporadic but knowable intervals. A girl who dances knows that life’s arrangements are not planar; she knows, and rightly demands, that the ebb comes along with the flow of disappointment. A girl who dances, who truly understands the story – no, syntax – ever present in her choreography, understands irregular pauses – the hesitation of breath, the look in your eyes, the inflection in your voice – that often take place prior to mustering up the courage to speak an “I love you” for the first time.
 

If you’re really lucky, she’ll say it first. She’ll respond “I love you too” and you’ll smile knowing that she can always sense exactly what’s on your mind without you having to utter a word. You’ll come to cherish these moments of silent communication.
 

Date a girl who dances because it’ll be an adventure. She’ll want to salsa after a day of chasing bulls in Barcelona, tango after cliff jumping in Rio, and relax after a day at the beach in Cinque Terra – not because it’s some dance haven, just because it would be romantic. Or maybe she won’t. But, the fact that you think she’ll enjoy those things and are willing to make it happen will change both of your lives forever.
 

Your love will grow, sometimes uncontrollably, as the days turn to months and the months to years. You’ll find that the girl who dances makes your heart oscillate with a significant passion. And although the traveling will have made for great photo albums, the best memories will be the simple time your spent together. After all, who you travel with can be more important than the destination.
 

You’ll decide you want to spend the rest of your life with her and a short love story, inspired by your charming proposal, will be written.
 

She’ll expect you to make the wedding invitations, create a budget, arrange the catering, and coordinate vows. All the planning she’ll leave to you will, at times, seem overwhelming. But it won’t matter because she’ll choose the venue – one with a grand ballroom – she’ll choreograph a romantic first dance that will bring the audience to tears, she’ll wear a stunning dress, and she will be the most beautiful bride that anyone has ever seen.
 

You, the girl who dances, make me want to be better. Your fervency is simply inspiring. You will accept nothing less than a rich performance, an intriguing partner, and a life worthy of an audience. I date the girl who dances because she gives me the most riveting life imaginable.
 

- Basil

Filed under: Random