“Yep.”
“What aboutRomeo and Juliet,” he asked. I nodded, and he replied jovially, “It’s the absolute best! Dance it with me.”
He offered me his hand and brought the other to his heart, pleading. I took a step back.
“No!”
“Come on,” he urged me. “The kids will love it, and it’s not every day an opportunity like this comes along.”
He said something to the students I didn’t catch, and they all started shouting and jumping up and down. The pianist played the first few chords of Act III, Scene I:Juliet’s Room.
“I don’t have shoes,” I said by way of excuse.
“I do. What size do you wear?” He wouldn’t give up, and as soon as the teacher came in, he said, “I’d guess you two wear the same size. Marina, le tue scarpe da punta?”
“Sì,” she replied.
It pained me to see his expression, and at the same time, I was about to do something I’d always dreamt of: dancing in my father’s arms. I used to think of it before I even knew he existed. What little girl doesn’t want to dance with her father? I nodded, and Marina handed me her pointe shoes. They made room for us and I tied the ribbons and stretched out a few seconds. Barefoot, Giulio approached with his arms extended.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I guess so.”
The piano started again, and I took my position. Giulio walked to the opposite side of the room. He drew a breath, grinned, and then his face transformed into the lover forced to leave his beloved. And the story came to life.
It was magical. I still remember it as though it had just happened. Innocent Romeo in jeans and a white shirt, Juliet in her blue dress, tormented by a secret. Two souls condemned to disaster.
We danced, each in our roles.
Juliet’s hands reached out, trying to keep Romeo from leaving, but pulling back from his hands in tragic despair.
Romeo finding Juliet with every leap, pirouetting and calming his somber disappointment.
A wordless goodbye.
Anticipation filled with suffering.
The music turns furious as the leave-taking approaches.
Juliet covers Romeo’s face with hysterical kisses.
Promises of love. Of seeing each other again.
Romeo departs and Juliet remains, shattered, agonizing.
End of the act.
The room filled with applause and Giulio ran over to me, hugging me and lifting me off the floor. I held him with closed eyes, tight. I could feel myself wanting to cry, struggling to breathe through so much emotion. It was almost impossible to let him go. I wanted to stay there forever, his heart beating against mine.
“My dear,” Giulio said, setting me down. I was confused, but then he went on. “Did you see how magnificent she was? I was right about her.”
I turned to see Dante standing in the doorway watching us with his arms crossed. He nodded, content, and said, “Bellissimo, amore.”
“Are you done at work?”
“Sì, Andiamo a casa,” he said, and made a walking motion with his fingers to show he was suggesting we go home.
“Good,” Giulio responded. “I’m tired. Maya, you’ll come with us, no? That way we can keep talking.”
