Before our afternoon session began with Carlos on Principle #10, X-Ray Anatomy, I became very curious about the white curtains covering the tall central mirrors in the studio in the area where the teacher stands during class. I went behind them, having fun walking back and forth along the wall between mirror and curtain, feeling partly childlike, partly catlike, and partly just like myself. One of the sensations I had was the thought, "I could teach here."
After tonight’s class with Carlos with a focus on the hands, studio manager Liz Ganz (who did some workshops for us in Ashland a few years ago) brought me down to the Nia office. Debbie had invited me out to dinner tonight. It turned out she couldn’t go, though, because she was working on a deadline. Liz mentioned to Debbie that she might need a sub for Thursday night’s class because Liz had an injury. When I heard this my energy field said, "I could teach!" My body was quiet. My mind expected only the next moment. They discussed it a bit and then Debbie said, "Rachael could teach!"
It feels natural, exciting, nerve wracking, natural, exciting . . . I wept tears of joy and gratitude on the bus home tonight. I have been dancing in that studio since 1982 when I studied jazz with Joe Orlando and Senegambian dance with Ruby Burns, and in that building since 1980, when I first moved to Portland after college.
The icing on the cake is that Ashland Nia Blue Belt, Sarah Rose Marshank, will be here at Nia HQ to dance with me in my class! What a dance the universe is. Baruch Hashem! I love you all.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Ruth // Jan 31, 2008 at 7:22 am
Mazel Tov!
Joy, Tenderness, and the Mystery of the Full Circle go with you as you dance the earth this evening!
love
Ruth
2 sarah rose // Jan 31, 2008 at 8:16 am
I can hardly wait!!!
I am off to teach X-Ray Anatomy to your love-ly circle of students here in Ashland. And then on the road…to dance with you!
See you soon!
hugs,
Sarah Rose
3 Richard // Jan 31, 2008 at 10:58 am
How moving and wonderful that, twenty-six years after first dancing in that very studio in the Pythian Building, you are now teaching there. One reason it’s moving to me is because even though we now live in Ashland, our deep-rooted connections to Portland remain. Have fun dancing amidst the mysteries of time and place and destiny and life and memories and newness.
Love,
Richard
4 Doris // Jan 31, 2008 at 11:01 am
That’s so awesome, honey, and so right and natural! I’m really proud of you. Remember the hot dusty summer day we hauled that enormous (and increasingly heavy) mirror out of the studio, down the step spirals and onto Trimet? So of course you are coming home to teach in that building!
All blessings, see you at lunch!
love, Doris
5 Ellen falkner // Jan 31, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Dear Rachael,
Wishing you all the joy that you bring to others!
Congratulations on such a well-deserved and beautiful honor! May it be all you wish for and more.
I am passing on the message to my Portland friends- maybe someone will be able to make it and experience all of your wonderfulness!
Thank you for all you give to me-
Love, Ellen
6 sharry // Jan 31, 2008 at 7:32 pm
It is 7:30 pm here in Ashland. I can imagine you teaching right now and Sarah is there also. How wonderful for you and all the students who get to experience your energy. We are so blessed to have you as our teacher week in and week out. Sarah did a great job today encouraging us to be bone people.
Hugs,
Sharry
7 Creta // Jan 31, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Tears of joy for you here too.
Love
Creta
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