First dance

(watercolor & acrylic illustration on paper, 2006)

"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."
Japanese Proverb

"To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love."
Jane Austen

"You've got to dance like nobody's watching and love like it's never going to hurt."
Anonymous

"There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them."
Vicki Baum

The lovely couple you see in this illustration are in the middle of their very first dance together. They were introduced to each other at a social gathering a few weeks prior and couldn't wait to see each other again.

He, a young gentleman by the name of Oliver Blick, tactfully asked his friends about her. She, a fun-loving socialite named Christine Wilson, openly inquired about his past from his sister. Oliver found out that Christine will be attending the 15th annual Spring Ball in the Moonlight Hall and decided that this would be his chance to woo the woman of his dreams. He ordered a new tuxedo jacket and bought a red satin tie with a matching pocket handkerchief.

Christine didn't know for sure, but was hoping that Oliver would be at the Spring Ball. Nonetheless, she borrowed her mother's jewelry to go with her hand embroidered sap green dress. When she saw him entering the ballroom her heart started beating so fast that she almost fainted. He didn't see her at first.

When their eyes met both of them lowered their eyes and blushed. Oliver took a deep breath and came up to Christine. When she said 'yes' to his invitation to dance his hands started shaking. When Oliver took Christine's hand into his he couldn't stop thinking that she'll be disgusted by his sweaty palm. She never noticed...