Balm

Vast improvement over yesterday's pic!!! Dance makes me well again!

Those of you who know me in real life and perhaps those who follow this blog know that I am recovering from traumatic illness and also horrific loss. This included the loss of a beloved African inspired dance class on Thursday nights, both of my wonderful Congolese dance classes with a cherished teacher, and Guinea dance glasses on Monday and Wednesday. I cannot attend these classes for reasons that are born out of a really sad situation that a few people close to me actually find appalling, given that dance is important for me to keep my spirit and body strong.

 I miss all those classes, and am missed greatly in them also, yet I refuse to be a hoarder of anything...I want to be a good person even in the dance community. These classes are not the property of one person, but what can you do? People do not just up and become kind and willing to share and be flexible overnight...usually there are deeply ingrained patterns at play that I wonder could ever change, though you never know...people are capable of amazing transformations, and I really do hope for this. There is a saying in Alanon that says "Get off their backs, get out of their way, get on with your life." Because I have a serious illness and know I do not have forever on this earth, I realized some time ago that I cannot wait for people to comprehend that I have a right to attend each and every one of those classes without harassment from anyone. I have to move on and leave people to deal with themselves. People who hoard gain nothing, ironically, in the end.

I have long wanted to find a dance class to replace the Thursday night class and have found a wonderful bellydance teacher in the Fat Chance Bellydance improvisational style that is so close to my heart. My teacher has the most graceful and gracious energy and a gentle teaching style. Plus the studio is five minutes from where I live, a beautiful private studio in a lovely setting. I am so glad to have found this place, a balm for my wounded spirit and a place of deep safety and peace. I am glad!