Sunday April 27, 2008

Ok everybody, remain calm.  $4 a gallon, the mortgage industry in a panic, inflation, recession.... it's hitting us all personally and directly.  Our economy is re-calibrating.  It's a bump in the road.  A temporary shift we will process through.  But in the meantime I have this fire in me to do something about it - as if I could!  Crazy thoughts like calling my landlord and asking him to forgive us our rent for a month so we could give our loyal students a month of free classes.  Wouldn't that be helpful??  I've always found dance to heal me when times are hard - providing a release and facilitating a renewed connection to the bigger picture.  It's hard to stay angry, frustrated, depressed... oops, wrong words... let's use affected, challenged, calm before the storm (see previous Director's  Journal entry), when you have a dance class to go to.  

And speaking of that, if you haven't already noticed, we've added 5 absolutely off the charts amazing new classes and the gifted teachers who inspired them.... Arian Keddell (Pointe Optional, Vintage ballet), Susan Haskell (Contemporary stretch and release). Ira Cambric (All or Nothing, Afro Lyrical),  Bethany Doherty (Broadway Tap, Musical Theater), Destiney Blue (with her feel good Centercourt Fitness)....  In fact, if you look at our faculty roster, it's kicking.  Never, ever ever EVER in the history of dance in Atlanta has a more gifted and talented group of teachers assembled on a schedule, at one studio, under one roof - teaching adults.  It's the old timers like Tim and me and a handful of students who pinch ourselves daily - because we remember how it used to be.   I am a humble student of life.  I try my best to roll with the punches.  But Poo! (read previous Director's Journal entry), just when we are hitting our stride, the lid preparing to blow off... gas hits $4 bucks and the economy shifts.

My husband, in all his wisdom, often points out to me that "we're in this together".  And we are.  Not just him and me, but you and me as well. We are all connected and whereas the trees may be different, the forest is the same.  We deal with the same types of challenges: business, work, relationships, health, finances.... and we do the best we can, hoping to squeeze in as many moments of joy we can create for ourselves.  Let's take comfort in each other.  If you are worried about the future, stop.  This will pass.  

More classes are in development with new talent in the wings.  TransforMotion is about 7 weeks away. We're charging ahead. Tickets go on sale next week, sponsors are being contacted, visuals are in development.  The show pieces look amazing and we all agree this performance will be our crowning jewel.  There will be celebrities in attendance, local and national press coverage - we're playing balls to the wall.  TransforMotion could only happen here in Atlanta.  A show of this magnitude in New York or L.A. would showcase professional talent. Here our talent is amateur but in this context, amateur is no less than professional - do not let that word diminish your expectations of this show.  17 pieces and 160 dancers.  You will attend and you will bring your friends and everyone, bar none, will be blown away by this voyage of visual imagery, dance and sound.  You will be proud of your studio and will walk away with a renewed understanding of the beauty of what you take class to learn.

History is most always made in retrospect.  Not usually do we find ourselves in the eye of significant change and recognize it as such.  It's when we look back that we see things more clearly, that we are able to identify the turning points in our lives.  Occasionally we're in the middle of it and we know it.  From where I sit, the picture is in focus.  TransforMotion will accomplish something beyond the limits of even MY imagination (which tends to be pretty out there as you know).

I may be worried about the price of gas right now, but when I look back at the Spring of 2008, I have a pretty darn good feeling that's not what I will remember.  --Ofelia