Oh! you are THE dancer.

In November, it will be exactly one year since I have been back home.  Before I was in "Jozi" South AFRICA (the big city of GOLD) and now I am back home to my small town in the States. A big difference for me to shift back into a town that I call home.

After my ballet class today, I went to the health food store. As I was ordering some items I gave her my name and she said you are THE dancer. I come from a small town but big enough to not be known by everyone.  So when the health food store lady, people in Wal-Mart, and all the different people at coffee shops that I go to recognize me. It touches me.

It touches me because these people whether I knew them or not. These are the people that kept me going through out my career.  When I was in South Africa (not knowing anyone), I felt lonely at times but I thought about the bigger picture.  The bigger picture was living the dream for the people at home. That a small town girl could make it anywhere with just a little faith. 

I thought about my town and how diverse it is in culture. 

I was in South Africa for two years. During those two years the beginning development steps of my company, MufukaWorks were forming. I wanted to dance the stories of my town that kept me sane all during those two years  also a touch of South Africa. So I begin to write ideas and how I will like my dance company to form. After a good two years, I came back to my home town to develop my company.

Oh! you are THE dancer. To be recognized once in awhile keeps me going it reminds that my ideas of dancing back in my home town was not such a bad idea. Moving back to my home town is starting over for me.  For my town does not know me as the professional dancer because my professional dance work was outside of my home town. 

So I have to prove myself to them.....it is a challenge and some know what I am intending to do but some do not. It is another journey for me and I am up for it.

Oh! you are THE dancer and one day my students will get the same response.  Whether they are lawyers, doctors, or etc. in their future life, they will always carry the dance within them.