Worked Out

originally posted February 15, 2006

The difference between thriving and merely surviving has to do with expectations. Do you exceed them or simply meet them? Given a task, do you do it beautifully or do you adhere strictly to the minimum requirements? Portia and Sana, for one night, exceeded my expectations. Within the droning swirl of the czehar's notes and the mocking, high pitched syncopation of the flutes, they thrived. They sweat. They stalked. They showed their defiance. Ultimately, they showed their ability to operate in harmony with one another, despite what ambivalence exists between them. I watched them dance together, mandated to 'work it out', flaunting their womanhood. As the kaska player thumped a lewd beat, reminiscent of a woman's quickening pulse, they showed their disdain for one another. They stepped before one another, each attempting to outdo the other. As chests heaved and the muscles of thighs tightened, they tested. A graze. A bump. To no avail. Neither would yield. Finally, back to back, shoulder to shoulder, they each conceded. Both accepting the draw.
It was excellent.