Last night Eric told me we were going to dinner and dancing .....however instead it wall an elaborate scheme to get me to a wonderful surprise party where he dropped me off and I was surrounded by so many of my alumni students and parents! A core group of these ladies met at dance as children, became lifelong friends. They have been with each other throughout not just high school, but college, careers, marriages, and now children. Apparently there has been a secret facebook group contacting many of my alumni and last night was the culmination of all their sneaky plans! I was dropped off and welcomed with a gigantic surprise and once I gathered myself and focused my eyes I was absolutely surrounded by students from so many years past....back when I first opened my studio...and the girls and now ladies with poise, grace and came from all over to take part in our Girls Night Out. I had former students come from as far away as California to be a part. I honestly was overwhelmed with emotion. After a great dinner and slideshow of old pictures (Thank you Michael Lasris), we watched a wonderful video of all their dance numbers from when they were all still dancing )thank you Terry Pomeroy). I thought that was it until a Party Bus pulled up and some ladies left and others joined us for the next segment of our evening. We went to a Block Party/Concert and danced...... and some rather interesting people danced with us......but I dont think theyll remember that in the morning. LOL They taught me some line dances and we had a GREAT time, even in the heat of the evening! I thought we were done, but there was still the final segment of the night. The Party Bus made its way to our final destination, but before we got off there was an impromptu moment of reflection and shared memories about what dancing with me so many years ago has meant to them. It was during that few minutes that I realized that all my internal struggles, my doubts and questions as to whether what I did the past 22 years mattered were answered. Each of them GOT it. They realized ALL those lessons at dance class were NOT about just dance. They learned all those hidden lessons that were so important to me to teach....to show them that dance class is about so much more than just dance steps. I was humbled and so very, very proud. Our evening ended at a line dancing club, a pole, a mechanical bull, and a game of pool, which Darla Cooley Jenkins and I somehow managed to win. It was a great evening shared with not just my students but my friends. What a special evening...and one I will never forget! Thank you everyone.....from the bottom of my heart. That evening meant more to me than you could possibly know.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:43:53 +0000