I sometimes forget that life is a series of changes.  We are not meant to stay the same.  Just when things seem unbearable, I burst from my cocoon into a new and beautiful phase.  I’ve learned to listen to the inner dialogue – which unfortunately has been an irritating and deflating critic for the better part of my life.  Having burst from that cocoon, I now see life as a series of opportunities.  How much more fulfilling is that!

And so it is with Dance.  Just when I found that I could barely stay motivated to practice between road trips to Houston, I was given the chance to start fresh with new teacher.  Miss Sunanda has wisely encouraged me to “move forward” and “keep going”.  And Miss Shanti, my new teacher, has taken me on – this 45 year-old white chick.  No sooner had I discussed with Miss Shanti my abject fear of performing, than I found myself practicing 6 days a week for an upcoming Diwali performance.  Oh yes.  On October 25th, I will be onstage with four other dancers, performing in front of a crowd which will include a former President of India!  I am relieved that I won’t know most of the people there, much less the Guest of Honor!

Putting my fears and self-doubt aside now….  What an amazing opportunity!  The song we’re dancing to is exhilarating!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1UgUpKz3Lc

I am grateful to my new teacher for taking me on.  I love being part of a dance community again.  There are times when I am driving to Kenner for class that I feel a pang of nostalgia, and I think I’m driving to Miss Sunanda’s house.  When she used to live in Kenner.  Before Katrina.  I pull up to Miss Shanti’s house and am greeted by her warm smile.  I take my place on her dance floor with my classmates, who used to also dance on Miss Sunanda’s dance floor.  There is incense.  There is gorgeous music.  There is the talam urging me on.   The Dance takes me over, and there is no time, no space, just Bliss.