20/06/2014
"To dance or not to dance that is the question"
So the past few months have been difficult for the Pittsburgh Salsa Community and our other Sister Areas (from New York to LA). It has been a grieveous time for a lot, and a time of complete disappearance for others. I mourn the loss of my partner in crime, my dance guru, my opera buddy, my salsa drift, my friend Mia. She held the world in the palm of her hand and she danced with it.
I find it difficult to make my way on Monday or Tuesday, I always have an excuse for Thursday and Wednesday... Forget Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The truth is, its just not the same. Dancing doesn't hold the same sway without my friend. This woman I would call or text one word and KNOW that she GOT IT. I could hear her laughing or shaking her head when she read it. I was blessed with her friendship and now her guardianship.
Now Mia--The question becomes-- How can I dance without you? I wrestled with this question day in and day out as I stand and look at my Salsa Shirt and red shoes begging me to put them on. I use my FAIL ME NOT excuses and wiggle right pass them and say tomorrow. How can I? Why should I? Do I dare?
I read the post about CAVO and Los Sabaros, Cabaret and the old Tusca on Tuesday, Seviche on Monday and Thursday until Perle opens back up... and I have this urge to comply, but allow my mourning to overtake me and turn a blind eye. I miss dancing almost as much as I miss you... They are intertwined and I am lost without them. 10 years Boo!!! 10 Years... Roads traveled, songs sung, opera rehearsals--dancing afterwards, DC, Cleveland, and all the places in between. Now I am forced to choose--my grief--my mourning or the FLOOR.
You see, there is HEALING in the dance. There is a breaking of chains in the dance. There is the letting go and finding forgiveness on the floor that started it all. I find our friendship on the floor. I see your spirit on the floor--and I think that is a little bit to Afro-Centric for some (they ain't ready). Sooooo my friend, what shall I do?
So, against my better judgment I am taking the lessons with Psyanii (misspelled) and I hope I get a little bit of what you had when you took a lesson with him. I remember our conversation like yesterday... YOU shared that lesson just like I shared my Magna experience; and we were the better for it.
ALSO, I am going to see El Gran Combo on Sunday. Free concert! Facebook is blowing up with people driving down for the concert--They AIN'T READY... but neither am I... I gotta get into Salsa Shape... LOL
You know, so many people say, RIP or the new one RWG... I'm your friend and I wouldn't dare be so CLICHE... I hope your spirit is running WILD in instruments, and in white dance shoes with the dirt on the side, I hope your Vibratto is heard in the Thunderstorms and your laugh in the Wind--I hope you visit those new beginner dancers and bless them with the desire to learn ON2, and the old dancers--patience when leading... Kiss your husband on the forehead when he can't sleep and whisper in your natural friends ears when they are fighting with their hair... bless the feminist with boldness not to rewrite their true feelings and you give the DJ's in Pittsburgh some Cha-Cha-Cha's just for me...
I will see your spirit on the Dance Floor
I miss you... I love you
Michele
