The Dance

You’ve seen them in movies,
the long line of girls in leotards
working at the barré, as their teacher
walks along, adjusting their positions;
changing the angle of a wrist here, a foot there,
until they know the positions with their bodies.
When I play piano, I want my fingers to dance on the keys.
My teacher therefore helps me to adjust the angle of my wrist,
the position of my foot. She reminds me to not tense my shoulders and
adjusts my hand and body posture until my body knows the positioning.
Then the dance can resume.