Tsunami Studio

November Classes at Lotus Yoga

Greetings and Dancing News contained in the video above.  Check it out and then come dance it out at one (or both!) of our classes happening in November.  Elia and I look foward to seeing you soon!

NOVEMBER CLASSES AT LOTUS YOGA (located upstairs in the Centre of Balance building at 2935 Marine Drive in Astoria)

Sundays ~ 1, 8, 15 & 22  SANCTUARY  6:00 - 8:00pm

Wednesdays ~ 4, 11 & 18  EXPLORATIONS  7:00 - 8:15pm

Please note there will not be a class held on Wednesday evening the 25th or on Sunday evening the 29th.  Classes are $12 and you are welcome to drop-in and join us anytime throughout the month.  If you'd like to save a few buckeroos, pre-enroll (which means you're committing to and paying in advance for all three Wednesday classes or all four Sunday classes) and it reduces the fee to $10 per class. 

Got questions?  Call or send us an email.  See you on the dance floor!

It was a sweet celebration...

"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!

   

Keep on Keepin' On

Fall is a perfect time for new beginnings. At Tsunami Studio, most of you know we are down to our last few classes in the Exchange Street studio. What a great time we've had here! Laughter, tears, love--we've seen a little bit of everything as our community and dance practice have grown and evolved. Lisa and I are so grateful for the space, the time we've had here, and for YOU!

While moving from our perfect space is a transition with a bit of melancholy attached, we both know that the dance is not determined by the space, the music, or the lighting. What makes the dance is the dancer, and wherever we dance together we create community. We are still checking out spaces in Astoria, but we have found a home for our Sanctuary class in October. Judy Matelich of Lotus Yoga Studio has welcomed Tsunami with open arms and heart. We are excited to offer our Sunday Sanctuary class in her sweet, spiritual space. (How's that for some alliteration?)

Lotus Yoga Studio is quite a bit smaller than what we're used to, so classes will need to be pre-enrolled at this time to ensure that we have room to move. Lisa will be taking some time to travel in October, and Elia will facilitate the 4-week session of Sunday classes.

Here are the details:

Where: Lotus Yoga Studio, 2935 Marine Dr., Astoria ~ 2nd floor

When:  6 - 8pm October 4, 11, 18, 25

Cost: $40 for the four Sundays

After our four weeks in the new space, we'll evaluate how it worked for us. Lisa and I will still be keeping eyes open for larger venues as well.

For more info on the class or to register, email Elia at tsunamimovesyou@gmail.com

A Few More Moments

I don't say this to sound fatalistic, but to be realistic...there are just three more classes left at Tsunami Studio.  I'll admit that sentence was somewhat tough to write down.  One more Divas.  One more Explorations.  One more Sanctuary.  And while we, most assuredly, will continue our dancing adventures elsewhere, no longer will we have this sweet space that is uniquely ours.  And when I say we, I do not mean Elia and I.  I mean all of us who have danced together, laughed and cried together, created something amazing together in this beautiful studio in Astoria, Oregon. 

Since October of last year, Elia and I have been committed to making Tsunami Studio a place of creativity, connection and community.  Without a doubt, we've done that.  While it's hard not to develop a fond appreciation for and slight attachment to the physical space in which so much has happened over the course of a year, we want our dancers to know this; it's not the space that created all that dancing magic, goodness, and love.  It was all of you that made it possible for us to have the kind of experiences we've had together. It was all of you who helped us realize our dream of having our own studio. 

This Thursday, we'll be exploring the concept of "a moment".  What is it that captures our attention from one moment to the next?  Do we choose to notice a moment or does a moment choose us? Why are some moments easily forgotten while others are forever etched in our minds and in our hearts?  We will create and dance a few more moments separately and together and reminisce about the ones we've already shared.  We hope you'll join us for one of our classes this week. 

Stay tuned for a post in the next day or two about our last class on Sunday night.

Take Two Thursday

Last week's Explorations class will be THIS week's Explorations class.  We have had extremely warm and sunny days along the north coast this past week which has not only made many of us quite happy (myself included), but has kept us playing outdoors.   So when there were just three of us in the studio last Thursday night, we decided to postpone our "paint-dancing" experience so that others might join us in the fun. 

If you come to tomorrow night's class, here's what you need to know: Wear light-colored clothing (preferably all white) that you're not absolutely in love with and that you might not wear again. Who knows?   Maybe you would wear them again.  Maybe you would be so pleased and proud of your new mode of fashion you'd want to show it off because it was created in the spirit of your dance as well everyone else's.  Come explore what shows up on a canvas when creativity, community and color are applied.  Come dance and paint and play this Thursday night. 

Catch the Ride and Share the Wave in our sweet studio a few more times before we close our doors and move on to another space.  After Thursday night, there are just four classes left.

Thursday Explorations ~ Colors, Canvas & Community

     

It's time to bring your inner Leonardo DaVinci, Pablo Picasso and Georgia O'Keefe to class.  On Thursday night at Tsunami, you'll be given a rare opportunity to see what your dance looks like when color is added.  There will be a blank canvas. Your imagination and creativity are the only things you'll need to bring.  All other materials will be provided.  We suggest you wear light-colored clothes  (preferably white) that you're not too particularly attached to.  

Come and explore how the music will move you to create more than just a dance, but a work of art that's one-of-a-kind!

Sweet Surprises Stir the Spirit

Last Saturday night, August 29th, the studio played host to a four year-old's birthday party.  This picture is the sweet sign that Seamus' Mom, Meghann made and put on our door for the event.  I opened up the studio for them and then left while they had their celebration.  I wanted to make sure they had what they needed for the evening and I also wanted to meet the birthday boy, Seamus.  It looked like it was going to be a great party with balloons, presents, cake, and of course, dance.  

I came back a couple hours later to say goodbye to them and lock up.  It wasn't until after they drove away that I saw the sign and when I did, tears began to fall.  They were happy tears, but there was sadness stirring within me as well.  I was incredibly moved that Meghann would take the time to create such a lovely sign that not only honored her son's birthday, but lovingly informed their guests about one of the studio's requests of our dancers.  I was so happy that our studio could serve as the space for Seamus, a dozen or so of his friends and their parents to celebrate his special day.  

As I stood there in the warm light of the studio, a simple piece of paper with a few colorful creatures and words stirred my spirit and gently held my heart.  It was the first time I really felt sad about our forthcoming move away from the studio.  While I know we'll continue dancing and we'll find another space to rent to hold classes, I know it won't quite be the same.  It won't be our studio. It won't be this beautiful place we've created together with the people who have been dancing with us this past year. 

I've never been anything less than real with my business partner, Elia and with the folks who come to the studio, but I'll admit I've been putting on a brave face the past few weeks.  There is a part of me that can't help but wonder how we could have made it financially.  There is a part of me that wants to know why more people didn't come to our classes.  There is a part of me that is incredibly sad that things didn't turn out differently.  I wish we could stay exactly where we are and I know it's time to move on.   The sadness I feel is part of my process of letting go of what is and letting in what will be. 

So in the next few weeks as our last classes are held in our beautiful studio, please know that the tears you see are happy tears.  I am incredibly grateful to all of you who have danced and loved what we've created together at Tsunami.  Truly, this has been one of the most profound experiences of my life and for that, I thank you.  My spirit has been and continues to be sweetly stirred.

Thursday Explorations ~ Delicious Duality

"You must have shadow and light source both. Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe." ~ Rumi

Light and dark.  Good and bad.  Right and wrong.   Who says one is better than the other?    Might our greatest learning and understanding about life come from those experiences where duality is present and we welcome it in rather than push it away?   During Thursday's class, we'll explore and embrace both sides of the stories expressed through our dance. 

The tree of awe is comprised of your roots, branches and leaves.  It's all of you.  Come and dance your delicious selves.

An Important Announcement ~ The studio is on the move!

It began as a grand plan between two friends who loved to dance.  The idea to open a studio dedicated to free-form movement and creative expression really came to life in Elia's backyard two years ago.  Over lunch and our usual friendly banter, big dreams were brought to life on paper and that was the beginning of what would become a reality on October 8, 2008.   On that day, Tsunami Studio opened its doors and for the past eleven months we've been dancing in this beautiful space with amazing people.  

Had we known back then that the economy would take a turn for the worst would we still have begun a new business?  Yes!  Had we known back then that we would attract a smaller following of folks than we had imagined would attend our classes would we still have brought ecstatic dance to the north coast?  Absolutely!  Had we known back then we would need to close our doors in a year's time due to financial constraints would we still have taken the risks and gone on this adventure anyway?  Heck yeah and here's why...

• We have had the honor and priviledge to meet and become friends with many talented and lovely people. 
• We have witnessed grace and beauty, power and passion, laughter and love on the dance floor many a time and are ever-so grateful to those who have come to dance and who have shared a part of themselves with us.  
• We have created a small community of folks who love to move and be moved by the experience of creative movement and personal expression. 
• We have had the loving and unwavering support of our husbands throughout this journey of ours. Tsunami Studio would not have become a reality had it not been for James Dowley and Daric Moore.  
• We have learned a lot about ourselves as business owners, facilitators, and dancers.  

While the "For Lease" sign that now appears in our studio's window means we'll be leaving our sweet studio space at the end of September, it doesn't mean we'll stop dancing.  Yes, we'll be moving out and we'll be moving to another space.  We don't know yet where exactly that will be, but we promise to keep you informed of where we travel to next.  Afterall, when one door closes, another door is about to open.  

There's a lot more that Elia and I both want to say and those words will be shared here and in the studio in the coming month.  Until our next post, come to the studio and dance.  If you've never been and you've always wanted to take one of our classes, now's the time to do so.  If it's been awhile since you've danced and you still have a punch card on file with us, come back and use it up.  (Current multi-class punch-cards will expire on Sunday, September 27 which will be our last class in the studio.)  If you've been a frequent class participant, we look forward to seeing you again soon and continuing the dance with you. 

Dance of Solitude

"It is good to be solitary, for solitude is difficult; that something is difficult
 must be a reason the more for us to do it”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke

At the studio, we are often focused on creating community, finding new ways to dance together, and making contact (literally!). One of the most important aspects of the dance, however, is that our individual movement  informs our hearts, spirits, and minds. Solitude, the lone (as opposed to lonely) journey, the inward glance--these concepts can be frightening. How do we feel as the sole sojourner on our path? Do we like to be alone? Does the inward focused dance feel restful? Strange? Isolated? And what do those feelings tell us? How might your dance differ  if you were alone in a room as opposed to with others? This Thursday we'll explore a dance of oneness--with the self; guiding our energy into a deep inward spiral to find ourselves in Solitude.