Comments on: five minutes of dance

By: Anya

Anya — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:47:09 +0000

Hi Reed, I am late to read your post, but I still wanted to comment. Thank you for it, you spell out something that I am often thinking about lately – the need to dance ( almost an addiction), the feeling of something missing if I have not danced for a few days.
Bahari! It was awesome to see you again and that one dance with you last Wednesday had made my day! Thank you!

By: Jevon

Jevon — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:58:13 +0000

Reed, first let me tell you that when I see you come in, whatever time it is I am so so happy to see you! You have been nothing but encouraging to me and I absolutely love dancing with you so when you come in and class is almost over grab me and we can make it do what it do(thats a good thing LOL). Also when I read your post I was glad to hear that someone else feels the way I do about dancing and Salsa, I am working on the self expression part but it’s coming along slowly but surely I think. I dance everywhere I can or at least I’m running through turn patterns in my head when I can’t. I dance at home in the bathroom in front of the mirror(with my dog Miyah wondering what is wrong with her daddy), I dance at work( I have one nurse who is willing to just try), I dance in the gym(the other meat heads just don’t get it LOL), and I listen to Salsa almost 100% of the time now, in my car, at home, in the gym, wherever I can I am listening for the clave. So Reed don’t worry about the looks you get when you come in, people are probably thinking…..great, she made it! Can’t wait til tuesday…..I hate I am missing out on Fiesta Del Pueblo(gotta work!!!!) so I may just stop by the studio on sunday just to get my fix!

By: Tonia

Tonia — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:48:58 +0000

Well Reed we have met before and also shared dances but I didn’t realize who you were. Now I have a name to go with the face and I will still smile when you come late and I still look forward to sharing more dances with you.
It was good to dance with you tonight at La Fiesta. Thanks for leading me.

By: Reed

Reed — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:06:26 +0000

Tonia I loved your comment “I am perfectly joyful being imperfect.” That is at the heart of embracing something fully, and allowing yourself to be in that space. And yet I find it can be one of the most difficult things to do – and yet so important.

And interestingly, the student you are referring to wasn’t me, but he inspired me to finally submit this post which I had written weeks ago but had not yet summoned up the courage to send. When he arrived in class the other night I realized I’m not the only one.

Bahari – it is fabulous to have your smiling dancing self back in the studio Balance is a constant struggle, and I try to remember that the times when it seems the most insane thing to try and make it to dance class, are usually the times I need it the most.

By: Bahari J. Harris

Bahari J. Harris — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:55:35 +0000

This is fabulous! I’m smiling and dancing too! Last night at Paso was so exhilarating for me. I didn’t realize how much I missed (and need) dancing. I really have to try to never give up my passions when work and duty beckon. If there is no time to do what you love and what energizes you, then the rest of life will become a drain. We need balance.

By: Tonia

Tonia — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:45:05 +0000

Hey Reed – I didn’t get a chance to meet you but I’m guessing you were the guy who came to class at about the time it was ending? I was the woman who was rushing out to go dancing at Carmen’s…

I totally get how you feel. Recently I’ve been working a lot and I spend lots of time trying to stay connected with friends and organizations I value. Part of me feels like I should cut back on the amount of time I spend going out to dance, but no matter how tired, how much my body aches, or what time I have to get up the next day, I have to dance.

I recently danced with a friend who is a much more experienced dancer and I felt bad for him because I am so new and clumsy. He told me he loved to dance with me because of the smile I had on my face when I was dancing. I love that I can have such joy dancing even as I stumble around. There is nothing else I can think of that I enjoy so much that I am perfectly joyful being imperfect.

So next time you come late I’ll just smile and know that you are there to dance and hope that I will be able to share a dance with you.

By: Eduardo

Eduardo — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:05:01 +0000

Great post!

I have ALWAYS believed that your purest dance will come when no one is around…

It’s during these moments that I think you are actually reaching You, spelled with a capital ‘y’.

Sounds like you are getting in touch with the “central self” that Zander talks about….

By: Bahari

Bahari — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:08:59 +0000

Reed… that was incredible! You totally summed up my day yesterday – heck, my entire summer – in this well written and appropriately timed essay. Thanks you for your thoughts and your vulnerability. I am so glad that I’m not the only one… “And I dance.” Perfect!

~bjh