"Some people come into our lives and move our souls to dance. They awaken us to understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. They make our world more beautiful. Leave footprints in our hearts, and we are never, ever the same." ~Anon
It's been a little more than a week since we danced our last class at Tsunami Studio. While my heart is still filled with joy and gratitude from the four-hour celebration, I've also been aware of the sadness that's been playing alongside that sweet, sweet feeling of love. Yes, oh yes, we will continue to dance elsewhere, but damnit, I'm going to miss our lovely space. I'm going to miss 1350 Exchange Street.
I'm very appreciative of what we created there and I'm excited to see what happens next and...(this wasn't something I was expecting), I find myself grieving our loss. When I walked into the studio on Monday to begin clearing out our belongings, I realized I was a lot more attached to four walls and a fir floor than I had thought. I've let go of plenty of things in my lifetime, but this time it felt different. That afternoon standing solo in the studio, I let the pain of letting go have its say. As the tears fell and my body shook, my last dance at Tsunami led me away from loss and steered me toward freedom.
As I take time away from our dancing community this month, I take all of you with me. All of you have touched my life (and Elia's too!) in so many ways that even when we're not dancing in each others' company, we're stlll connected to one another. Community has a way of making you feel that way.
To our dancers...thank you, thank you, thank you. In one year's time, you helped to transform Tsunami Studio from a place where strangers meet to dance into a place where dance creates friends out of strangers.
In no particular order...Elia, Daric, Dan, Nels, Dinah, Joan, Jenni, Barbara, Nancy, Teri, Sheila, Debra, Emily, Kimberly, Carrie, Denise, Beth, Belinda, Narissa...in a few days' time I'll be dancing with all of you on the beautiful beaches of Maui. I look forward to seeing you on a dance floor somewhere in Astoria in November! Until then, dance in your living rooms. Dance outdoors. Dance with each other.
Just have a look at us...we gotta keep on dancing!
