I cross kitty corner at SW Yamhill and Park toward the venerable Pythian Building, built in 1907 by the Knights of Pythias, an American secret society whose members, in their fraternal wisdom, included in this building at least five dance studios and one grand ballroom.
A street musician plays an upbeat violin concerto. The afternoon is shimmery, hot, but not too hot.
Inside the building, the elevator won’t stop at StudioNia on the fourth floor. Instead, we spiral. We ride up to the fifth floor, back to the first floor, and then walk up. First I hear them, then I see them.
Two flights of the wide, old stairwell are full of chattering Nia Brown Belts, waiting for the fourth floor doors to be opened, perched like a bunch of colorful, talkative cranes that have migrated here from all over the world, and wait, together, on the river bank for some mysterious signal to jump in and swim.
After registration, we enter the studio, where, like every Nia intensive, there is a circle of pillows, each with a name tag and a stack of materials for the week. We find our names, we sit, and it begins. We enter the river.
5 responses so far ↓
1 sharon dvora // Jul 13, 2008 at 7:17 am
Rachael… I’m dancing with you at Black Belt! Blessings for crossing this threshold with ease. Beauty and grace inhabit your movements inherently.
2 sharon dvora // Jul 13, 2008 at 7:19 am
Rachael… I’m dancing with you at Black Belt! Blessings for crossing this threshold with ease. Beauty and grace inhabit your movements always—what a gift for all of us that you explore your movements so deeply and with such creative awareness. Kol ha’kavod, Rachel (honor extends to you). May you go from strength to strength—from this level to the highest!
3 Sarah // Jul 13, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Hi Love,
Felt you in the river today…
yummmm!
hugs
4 Doris // Jul 13, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Hi Rachie,
I was thinking of you dancing your heart out in the atom-expanding Portland summer heat today, you and your sisters- wild, spirited, loving cranes…
love,
d
5 Liz Sherbow // Jul 14, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Dear Rachael, Thinking of you as you dance your way to your black belt. I enjoy seeing how you have been advancing with each phase of your black belt training. I’m so appreciative that I also get to receive the fruits of your endeavor! Love, Liz
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