Closing

"Gods, Monsters, and Heroes" ended with a bang and a standing ovation. This entire show experience was truly something special, and it's more than bittersweet now that it's over.

Last night at our cast party, I completely broke down. I knew I would cry at some point, but the tears came sooner than expected. Nothing like sobbing in public! I didn't try too hard to contain myself as I looked around the room, at what an amazing group of people I have surrounded myself with for the last 6 months. Every single dancer in this company is important to me. IDC has shown me exactly what I have always dreamt of finding in a dance company: professionalism, talent, passion, camaraderie. The energy of the group as a whole is overwhelming.

I think I hugged and kissed and professed my love for more company members last night than I ever have. I am so happy that even in the last week that I grew closer to my fellow dancers, learned new things about each other, discovered details and nuances that makes each person unique. Everyone has a place in my heart.

In addition to the show closing, IDC was awarded a residency at Thurgood Marshall Middle School this week (to be more specific, we found out on opening night!). We will run a dance program and in exchange receive free rehearsal space and use of the auditorium for performances. At first, the news was so huge that I had a hard time comprehending what it meant for us as a company. Not only do we save thousands of dollars a year and are able to do more with our funds, but we are inspiring young people to follow their artistic passions. For me, and everyone at IDC, this is an absolute dream come true. Performing is my number one love in life (okay, a close second to my husband), but passing on this gift to others in the hope that they will at least appreciate art means a great deal to me.

Thurgood Marshall wants us to start this week with a lecture and demonstration (which means that--YAY--we get to perform some GMH pieces again!), and start teaching classes in a couple of weeks. So the members of IDC's artistic cooperative pulled me aside: "We wanted to wait until after the show was over, but since we need to get started on the school program we have to ask you now. We want you to be part of the co-op." I was shaking like a chihuahua. What exactly does that mean? More of a time commitment, being able to help make decisions about everything in the company, and as one co-op member said, "it becomes your company." I was more than flattered: I would be lying if I denied dreaming about this moment, but never really believed it would happen, at least not after my second show with the company.

I was super excited to accept the position, but it touched my heart even more to hear everyone else's response. All of the congratulations, all of the genuine excitement to have me on board...I couldn't be happier.

IDC has come a long way even since our last show--my husband and greatest critic whose opinion is paramount to me said that this was the "absolute best work" that he has ever seen me do. I simply cannot wait to see where we go next.

Thank you to everyone in the cast for being wonderful and brilliant. I love you all. Thank you to friends who have supported me during this process--it means more to me than you probably know. I'm pretty lucky to have all of this.

The first day of my life

That's how I feel today, or maybe how I'm trying to convince myself to feel.

Yesterday was my last day at Russian Pointe. I now longer have a desk job, a business professional's position, or anything holding me back from my goals. I'm just another starving artist.

Today marks a new beginning, a chance to completely devote myself to my art. This choice has got to propel me forward, so keep in touch for updates.