...So, one evening, we walked into the Hall, it was setup for the dinners for the Students, and it was packed. There was a small stage, that had a piano on it, and I walked over to it and sat down, and began playing the Bach Prelude and Fugue to warm up. Students often would play the piano during meals, and whenever I ate there, I would get irritated and want to shout..."SHUT THE F--- UP...I AM TRYING TO EAT!!!" (Usually, the players were obnoxious amateurs who were seeking attention, and didn't play very well, at all.
) The background talk got a little quieter as I played...after all...I WAS a MUSIC MAJOR at the time...but it was still pretty loud. I smiled, and nodded to the audience, and then watched as my new friend came onto the stage. She was a very beautiful Hispanic woman, and she was wearing an appropriate costume. The audience quieted down when they saw her, many knew her, since most of the Diners were students at Raymond.
...She struck the opening pose, and then nodded to me, and I began playing 'Asturias'.
She began dancing, and we were into it. She had placed herself so I could easily see her, I just had to lift my eyes from the keyboard to watch her. I had the piece memorized, so music wasn't in the way. I was actually mezmerized by her dance, she was telling a story. The way she used her feet, how she moved her body, and the expressions on her face made the story as clear as if she was speaking. The Hall was completely silent as she danced.
During the fast passages, she had to follow me, since I needed to keep the beat steady, but she was in command during the slow, elegant middle section. I was watching her, very carefully, and she would give me subtle signals with her hands, and her head, so I could follow what she was doing. I then got back into the fast section, and her feet were thundering on the stage...her shoes had metal in them.
...We finished, and she just held her final pose, my hands were resting on the keyboard. The Hall was silent, until she dropped her arms, and, well...we GOT APPLAUSE!!!
She was very nice, after taking a bow, she came over to me, and pulled me off of the bench, and had me take a bow by myself, as she applauded, and then we held hands, and took several bows together, and hugged when the applause was over.
...We stayed friends, and would do things together, or with a group. We did perform a few more times, usually simpler, and shorter works, but a couple times we did perform 'Asturias'. Once, it was at a formal dinner that the University President had arranged for Alumni, (He was getting them to contribute more money), we did request a reasonable fee, and dinner, in return. We didn't get as much money as we had asked for, but the steak and lobster dinner was a real treat for we starving students. We actually sat at a table with some of the Alumni as we ate, but left as soon as we finished dessert. Those 'dirty old men' were delighted to have two pretty young women sitting with them, although their wives didn't seem to be very happy to see us when we sat down with them.
...We were just together for that one year, she was a Senior, I was a Frosh, and she went to study in Europe the next year, while I stayed on the Campus. We corresponded by mail for a while, but since we were each making a new life, we gradually stopped. But, I still have very fond memories of her, as you can see, that was a very educational experience for me.
