Since Clark and I are the only two guys around here who can actually get up on pointe, we pretty much knew what roles we would get. I would end up playing Bottom since they�d want Clark as Puck due to his size.
In this duet, Puck has just turned Bottom into an ass while asleep in the forest. He casts a spell on Titania, the fairy queen causing her to fall in love with the first person she sees which just happens to be Bottom, this dude that has just been turned into an ass. It�s a real neat and unusual duet due to the fact that both the boy and the girl are on toe.
Clark is ready and stands next to me stretching his feet. His tank top, wet from his recent impromptu workout clings like a second skin.
"I�m gonna run downstairs and lock up." He says heading for the front doors.
"While yer down there, grab some rosin, the box here is empty."
"Yes SIR!" he salutes and marches out. "Hey!" he says popping his head back in. "Why don�t we do it onstage? Want to?"
"Do you know it well enough to do it without the mirror?"
"Yeah, sure. Be right back."
I take the cassette and put in the player "backstage". The giant studio is also used as a theater. A curtain divides the last quarter of the floor marking the stage area. Risers are set up in the rest of the space for our regular school performances. For really large performances, we use the high school auditorium. I open the curtain and begin marking my steps onstage. Clark comes in from the rear stairs with the rosin box, joins me, and in a few minutes we have it all marked out.
"If you really expect me to partner you, you better take that wet shirt off. I don�t want to risk a slip up. Especially since were here alone." I tell him. The shirt comes off and I can�t help staring. I see him naked or nearly naked six days a week and I still can�t help myself. Some things will never change. I hope.
"Since your solo comes right before this, we may as well go from there right to the end."
"I don�t wanna do my solo." He whines.
"Did I ask you? C�mon, get in place. Go! I already started the tape!"
"All right, all right. Shit." He mutters as he runs offstage left. I get into my position on the floor downstage right.
As the mischievous prankster Puck, Clark is perfect casting. His spiked ash blonde hair, bright green eyes and sharp, straight features give him a natural elfin quality. He doesn�t just look the part though. His small, compact swimmers body moves with a nervous, brittle energy that only shorter dancers seem to have. He finishes a combination with a series of multiple pirouettes (five to be exact, the fuckin� showoff) and I watch his shoulders and pecs as he makes the required motions over me "casting his spell". His back muscles are equally fascinating as he does the same over the unsuspecting Titania. With a leap the moment is over, he is gone.
The music changes to a legato piece with a melody played by an oboe. My solo in contrast to Clark�s is made up of long, sustained movements. As I make my way around the stage, Clark towels off watching me, then gets into what would be Katia�s place onstage.
We crack each other up with the silly exaggerated pantomime section where Titania falls for me and I have no clue what�s happening. That section ends and we are now in place for the duet. I offer Clark my hand, he takes it striking an attitude pose on pointe. He holds it for a few seconds then I begin to promenade him.
"Just walk through it Clark. You don�t� have to do it full out on my account."
"I want to." He says as he lets go, raises both arms up and spins around.
"Why? I ask as I catch him at the waist, stopping his spin facing me. Avoiding my eyes, he continues to his next position.
"Why Clark?" I ask again as I slowly promenade him again. He straightens up and facing back to back, we hold hands. He leans over my back, I rise up on toe and bourre across the floor carrying him with me.
I set him down and still holding hands, we turn and face each other, I in a forward lunge, supporting him in an arabesque.
"Why do you have to do it full out?" I ask him again looking him straight in the face.
The music continues but we stop and just stand looking at each other. He looks at me as though I�ve asked him the stupidest question in the world. Maybe I have. Maybe I kinda know what�s happening here. Maybe I just wanna hear it out loud...
"Why Clark? ANSWER me! WHY?"
"Haven�t you ever wanted to be partnered?" he suddenly blurts out almost in tears.
The image of the ethereal, weightless ballerina made even lighter by the man supporting her as she floats through the air in a high lift is the first image of dance I fell in love with. I admit that as a kid, it was the ballerina I first envied and identified with, not her male partner. I wanted to soar above with my man beneath me, feeling his warm, strong hands guiding me. I wanted to be light and graceful, beautiful and strong. Strength is about the only thing I can say I�ve safely mastered. I�ve become an excellent partner and to always be there for a ballerina, helping her to fulfill her dream of lightness is the closest I�ve ever come to fulfilling my own.
