08/25/2026
It's been a handful of months since this show was performed of my last series I choreographed on "my kiddos" before moving away.
I'd be remise to say that although I'm not homesick in the sense of our life in TN (as much as we made it a beautiful one with what we had), I am homesick for the community of people I got to Shepard and who allowed me to grow up (and fumble) as a business owner with, spend days being silly with, watch 9 years of milestones with each passing leveling up, create upon, be the adult dancer's "yes" person when they asked if they could learn pointe work at 45, watch the adult who had never worn a tutu say "you made my dreams come true" because they got to wear a tutu, see the unmasking of so many anxiety ridden kiddos and bearing witness to their coming into their own, and so many more "things" that can with my studio.
I think too... it was knowing they saw me fully. Completely. and then further... I felt accepted. I felt loved in return from the tiniest of dancers who I taught the "wheels on the bus" dance version I created that taught practically a full barre to any adult who I got to share their first ballet class with and beyond.
I was able to teach a consistent class this summer to adults. The tiny space I got to hold of feeling like I belonged when teaching these consistent group of adults new movement and the feeling of beautiful in a renversé felt like a slice of home.
No I don't miss a lot of running a business... or being the go to everything person including unclogging toilets constantly or the inappropriate 2 am non urgent texts lol but those other things above I do miss and I hope I can find my footing again.
Growing pains are hard.
But posting these without tears but pride now seems like growth. Right?!
Hoping my people have landed softly in spaces that think they are as special as I know them to be.
As always... thank you Martin O'Connor at Martin O'Connor Photography for capture these glorious creatures of art so wonderfully.
