"Take Your Passion, and Make It Happen!" - Flashdance

Ashani Mfuko

Editor's Note: The following post is by Ashani Mfuko of Kiner Enterprises' Dancer's Blog. Ashani Mfuko is an advocate and supporter of dancers, dance instructors, and their dreams. This post really stuck out to me as a bit of a reality mixed with "You can do it!!" for younger dancers to think about. Making it as a dancer isn't easy, but it can be done!! There's just some things you have to consider and keep in mind throughout the process. The road has it's up's and down's but there are definite possibilities along the way as long as you have gas in your tank and knowledge in your brain. You just have to keep your chin up and keep pushing! Enjoy this guest post! (If you pay Ashani's Kiner Enterprises blog a web-visit and see anything out of place, please keep in mind the blog is currently under some renovations. Thanks!)

 As a dance teacher, I get to speak to and interact with many of you on a regular basis, and thanks to social media, I connect with a lot of you online as well. Today I wanted to share ten important career tips with you, that I believe you need to know. But these are things that you may not have heard from your dance teachers, mentors, or parents before. Consider this a wake-up call, and some straight talk to prepare you for what’s to come in your future career as a professional dancer, to help empower you and educate you in a real, and practical way. Knowledge is power.

1. There are not many paid jobs out there for dancers. I tell my students this all the time, not to discourage them or scare them, but so that they will be aware of reality. There simply aren’t enough paid jobs to match the magnitude of talented, professional dancers that are out there. So what tends to happen is, you’ll find a lot of professional dancers who are dancing for free, in a dance company, or for small gigs, and then they depend on a non-dance related job to pay the bills. Or in some cases, they teach dance classes to pay the bills. This is a huge problem because you (and your parents) obviously didn’t invest thousands of dollars into your training, so that you can dance for free. You’re supposed to be making a living off of your craft. My suggestion (besides going to auditions, and building relationships with your teachers, choreographers, talent agencies, and casting directors) is to get into the habit of creating your own opportunities. Embrace the mindset that YOU are your own big break. You’re not waiting for your big break, or waiting for someone to choose you. Know that the power to create a successful and financially stable dance career lies in your hands, not someone else’s.

2. Having talent and great technique are only half the battle. This is something else that I preach to my students all the time. Imagine this, you’re at a dance audition, and everyone in the room is in great shape, has excellent technique, and are all on pretty much the same level as you. How do you stand out? How do you make the choreographer or casting director’s eyes be drawn to you? There’s a 2-part answer to this question. One, you have to bring your own unique movement and performance quality, emotion, charisma, and expression to the dance. This has to happen not only through your body, but through your facial expression, your focus, your energy, and your intensity. Two, you have to have a “look”. You have to bring something special and unique to the table, in the way that you present yourself. You can do this through how you style your hair, apply your make-up, or through the clothing you wear. You must have a strong presence as a dancer, one that attracts people’s attention to you, and keeps it there.

3. You NEED to develop your other skills and abilities outside of dance. Yes I know, you love to dance, dance is your life, and you can’t imagine ever doing anything else. Yada yada yada. In reality, you need to develop your skills outside of just dancing. But luckily for you, as a dancer, you automatically develop some very valuable and marketable skills without even realizing it: adaptability, strong communication skills, the ability to well work with others on a team, you work well under pressure, you’re a fast-learner, you’re able to break things down into steps, and then create something beautiful, and much more. But even beyond that, get masterful in other areas, whether it’s writing, stage production, lighting design, video production/editing, photography, accounting, marketing, social media, personal training, speaking other languages, teaching, etc. The more that you are able to do, and have to offer, the more valuable you are, and the less likely you are to be broke, and living from paycheck to paycheck. Or even worse, stuck working at a job that you hate, just to pay the bills. Expand your horizons, learn more, and diversify.

4. You NEED an education. Knowledge is power. You NEED to learn about money management, budgeting, filing your taxes, investing, marketing, branding, fund raising, business, etc. Whether you choose to go the traditional route of higher education through a college or university, or choose to learn by reading books, and taking courses online, or at your local SBA, the key is to always be learning, growing, and expanding your knowledge base. Not knowing something is unacceptable in today’s world because of the easy accessibility we all have to loads of information online. Don’t ever get comfortable, and feel like, “I’m a dancer/choreographer, all I need to know about is dancing”. You’re lying to yourself, and you’re in denial. People who are smart are the first ones to innovate, and see trends before they even happen. They are always on top of what’s happening in the world around them, and therefore can plan ways to benefit from all of the resources and possibilities that exist in the world today. Get your education on a professional level, and get a self-education as well. Learn more about yourself, your purpose, your values, your strengths, your weaknesses, etc. With all of that knowledge, you can’t lose!

5. Social media is not just for play time and malarkey. You may not have noticed but, there are millions of people and companies all over the world, who are growing profitable and successful brands through social media. There IS a method to the madness, and much that can be done for your professional career through your connections and presence on social media. You may have only been using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Tumblr for fun, but as you prepare to begin your professional career, you’re going to have to make some changes to how you think about social media. Social media provides opportunities for you to connect directly with people who you would’ve never been able to reach 5 or 10 years ago. It also provides you with an opportunity to present your best self, and all that you have to offer as a dance professional, to potential casting directors, producers, choreographers, talent agencies, and dance companies. Start looking at social media as your way to build your professional network, establish your reputation, and make valuable connections, and stop posting photos of you and your friends’ late night binges and excursions to “da club”.

6. Take Care of Your Body!!! Your body is your instrument! You only get one. If you were a musician, let’s say a violinist, you would take care of your instrument like it was your child (or maybe your dog lol). You would invest in buying the best instrument possible, and then work hard to maintain its quality, and protect it from bad things happening to it, wouldn’t you? Your body is even MORE important, because you only get one. If something goes wrong with this body, you can’t go out and buy another one. Treat your body with respect and care. Do not eat crap! Do not smoke! Do not drink! Do not do drugs!!! These are all things that work AGAINST your body operating at its best, for the long-term. Stretch every day, take your dance classes, work out at the gym or at home to develop strength in areas that you can’t focus solely on during your dance classes. Build up your endurance and stamina. Strengthen your muscles. Eat clean. Rest, and get enough sleep every night. Get rid of toxic friends or relationships in your life. Take care of your spirit and your soul through prayer, meditation, and reading the bible. Be good to yourself. Speak life, and positive thoughts to yourself, and to others. Keep negativity, bitterness, hatred, and jealousy away from you at all costs. Love yourself!!

7. It IS about who you know, and your reputation will make or break you. It’s not a rumor, it’s the truth. There is definitely something to be said for knowing the “right people”, and having the right connections in this business. You can call it politics, you can call it unfair, you can call it whatever you want to call it. The truth is, when you build relationships with people, and people know, like, and trust you, you have an advantage over someone else who they don’t know, like, or trust. When you have a great reputation for being professional, on time, hard-working, fun to be around, and great to work with, that reputation precedes you, and can get you jobs that you didn’t even audition for. In this business, you never know who you’re going to meet, and you sometimes don’t even know who you’re talking to. You could just strike up a conversation with someone at a dance studio, event, or coffee shop, and find out later that they’re a producer for a Broadway show, or a television exec. or casting director. You never know. Always present your best self, and carry yourself with dignity and respect. Treat people the way you want to be treated, and be kind, friendly, and pleasant to every person you meet. Always have your professional business cards on hand, and make sure that your online presence (your website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter profile, YouTube channel, etc.) match the level of professionalism that you present to people in person.

8. Humility is key. You can be working today, and unemployed tomorrow. You can be at the top of your game today, and seriously injured tomorrow. You could be the best in your company, city, or studio today, and be the worst in your company, city, or studio tomorrow, when a new dancer, or batch of dancers comes in. “Don’t get gassed”, as they say. Stay humble. There’s always someone else out there who is better than you in some way.

9. Confidence is also key. Let’s not go to extremes here. Don’t beat yourself up, be highly critical of yourself, or downplay your gifts and talents as a dance artist. You’ve worked hard to reach the level that you’re at, and you should be proud of that. God has given you something unique and special, that no one else has. Be confident in that. We’ve all seen that dancer either on tv, in the studio, or at a performance, that is inadvertently apologizing for taking up space on the dance floor, and it is truly painful to watch. Be confident in who you are as a dancer, and project that confidence to your audience, at all times (even when you mess up).

10. You will NEVER train at the level and intensity that you are training at now, ever again. Once you graduate from college, or complete whatever pre-professional program you’re currently in, and start your professional career, you will never train again for 4-6 hours a day, every day. Why not, do you ask? Because no one pays you to train/take dance classes. Most of your time will be spent working to pay your rent, pay for food, and your other expenses, in addition to going to auditions. It will be a tremendous blessing for you, if you are able to take one class every day, consistently. Oh, and did I mention how expensive dance classes are? Yeah, at about $20 a pop, expect to be spending at least $100 per/week on dance classes, and that’s if you only take one class a day, five days a week.

Now there are of course, work study programs at many of the local dance studios in NYC. You can get discounted classes (or free in some cases), in exchange for working a certain number of hours at the dance studio, which is cool. But remember, there are only so many hours in a day. You still have to work at a job that pays you, take classes, audition, rehearse, perform, and oh yeah, have a social life of some sort! If you are able to get into a professional dance company that pays you for rehearsals and performances, and also offers company classes every day, your are TRULY blessed. But those situations are hard to come by.

I told you at the beginning of this post that this would be a reality check, and some straight talk for you. So I know that it’s not all rosy and pretty, and covered in honey, but sometimes you need a good ol’ reality check.

The moral of the story is: Work hard, Work smart, learn, grow, diversify, take your career and your craft seriously, invest your time and your money wisely, and keep the passion, and a positive attitude for what you do every day. It won’t always be easy, but I promise you that it will be worth it.

“If Only We’d Stop Trying to be Happy, We’d Have a Pretty Good Time.” – Edith Wharton

As humans, we sometimes too frequently tend to concentrate on the things we don’t have rather than the things we do. Or the things we can’t do rather than the things we can. I’ve noticed that especially about myself. I get caught up thinking about the bigger things in life, the things I haven’t accomplished yet, things I don’t have - a new car, more money, the ability to buy my dream house. I often wonder if I have taken advantage of every dance opportunity I could in life. Should I have chosen another path to accomplish more or tried to perform on a larger level? Did I miss a chance? I don’t really have the desire to be well-known, rich, or famous, but the desire to feel successful like I have made my life worthwhile. Like I have done something to be worthy of the opportunity to have a life and to have walked the earth. Whether its goals, success, money, or material possessions, I feel we sometimes work harder trying to acquire things instead of enjoying the things we already have. I know I’m guilty of that.

Being a dreamer is so much fun because I try to push my boundaries everyday. Dreamers look at life as living not just surviving. But I’m finding there also seems to be a lot of pressure to a dreamer’s lifestyle. Or mine anyway… There are so many things to accomplish in this wondrous lifetime and not enough time to do it in. We sometimes think we have a full-life to get everything done - usually 90 years or so - but that’s not always the case. As we all know, each day is not a guarantee, and life could end in the blink of an eye with a car wreck, an act of violence, a freak accident, or a brain aneurism. Anything can happen. No day is guaranteed. No hour is guaranteed. And by golly, be grateful for the seconds. In a second, you can experience a smile, a look, a touch – those smaller miracles we sometimes forget when planning for the “big” moments of our lives.

Here’s my dilemma: One of my big aspirations in life has been to be a professional dancer. Not for the fame, but for the experience. (And a little fortune wouldn’t hurt either, but like some of my past posts have said, “I don’t do it for the money.”) And sometimes I think: “I have to accomplish this! This is one thing I’ve always wanted to do! I must get this checked off of my bucket list before it’s too late!” I want to perform at unique places for amazing audiences who really got psyched up over my group’s performances – I guess a kind of a clogging rockstar… as funny as that sounds. Mainly it’s just longing for that energy that you get from the combination of an awesome, intense performance and an electric crowd. There’s no better feeling.

But then there’s this little voice in my head, this wise little voice that has the perfect advice. “Shut your mouth and open your eyes, Dorothy!!” College basketball coach Dean Smith once said, “If you make every game a life-and-death proposition then you’re going to have problems. For one thing, you’ll be dead a lot.” It’s kind of the same thing with life. If you go through life thinking about everything you don’t have and how you can obtain it, you’ll miss out on the things you do have. It’s a simple thought that we all keep in the back of our minds, but we so rarely remember it. I’ve been reading Michael J. Fox’s Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. In the opening pages, Michael, who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, talks about his morning routine of waking up to an already twitching body, the battle to put on his slippers because his body is contorting and fighting him and itself, his first steps awkward steps of the day that lead to the bathroom where he will proceed to apply toothpaste to his Oral B – a task that, with Parkinson’s, as about as easy to accomplish in an old pick-up truck on a back country road filled with potholes. But with toothpaste finally on the brush, Fox inserts the cleaning device in his mouth and opens his neurological floodgates letting his right hand twitch and jump to its nerve’s content. He describes it as being better than the most powerful state-of-the-art electric toothbrush on the market.

Just a few paragraphs away, Michael talks about physical strength, spontaneity, physical balance, and the freedom to do what you want, but Michael doesn’t have that anymore. That struck me enough to lay the book down, walk into my office to grab my laptop, and walk back to my couch. With my laptop in hand and couch in sight, something hit me. I was able to easily get up from my couch and WALK into my office, grab my laptop, and WALK back in a matter of a couple seconds. I wondered how difficult that task might have been for Michael. It would be more of a chore battling a twitching body on the way to and from. But of course, Michael has something to be appreciative of (and I’m sure he is!) – the fact that he can walk at all.

The other thing that struck me was the comment about spontaneity. If I wanted to, I could jump in my car at any moment, throw caution to the wind, pick up a good friend, and take a road trip across country. Of course, there’s that little worry of work, money, and responsibilities, but physically I could do that. There are a lot of people who couldn’t.

Going back to my original point – we get so wrapped up in trying to be richer, trying to be more successful, trying to accomplish so much that we forget what we already have. Oprah Winfrey said “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never ever have enough.” I found that if I sat back and thought about what I have, then I HAD a greater amount than what I DIDN’T HAVE. So what am I worried about?

A geocaching adventure with a few good friends

When we scratch and claw and dig so hard to try to get more wealth, success, or whatever we’re going after, we sometimes develop tunnel vision. We forget the small blessings. An evening walk with a friend, watching a movie with family, enjoying the soft smell of freshly dried laundry, laying on a blanket with friends while enjoying the site of a sky full of stars, enjoying a perfectly prepared steak, or even something as simple as feeling warm sunbeams on your face. Where I live, it’s winter outside and temperatures are low. I’m not a fan of cold weather at all, but I love the winter because of how warm it makes the house feel. I long for the warmer weather when my hubby and I can hit the road to one of his favorite car shows or when I can hit up a geo-cache or two with a few fun friends. But while I long for green grass, blue sky, and 80-degree temperatures, I still count my blessings that I can sit at my window and SEE the big puffy snowflakes fall from the sky or that I can WALK up a hill to snowtube down, wipeout at the bottom, laugh at myself, and get back up and do it all over again. These are the memories I will remember. Dancing on big stages or in front of the perfect crowd is amazing and is a pretty cool experience and accomplishment, but times of peace and quiet and marveling and soul searching with friends… that’s just what life is truly all about. Besides… if we got what we wanted all the time, consistently everyday… how special would it truly be?

The Best Success

Wondering whether I have chosen the right path, wondering if I am successful enough, wondering if I could’ve performed on bigger stages… All I have to do is dance with my kids, watch the smiles on their faces while they’re having fun in class, watch the comradery develop among my dancers whether they’re performing or competing… Dancing on a stage with guys and girls who put every ounce of their heart into it… There’s no bigger stage than that. And how lucky am I? I might not be a Julliard graduate or own a big, fancy New York studio, but I’m definitely lucky for all the successes, opportunities, blessings, and people I have in my life.

"Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams. Live the Life You Have Imagined." - Henry David Thoreau

A recent late night talk with a very wise friend led us to the subject of dreams. Why people dream, and why some people don’t dream. And why some people have dreams and don’t pursue them. My like-minded friend and I thought about the people out there who simply didn’t dream or didn’t try to live their dreams. “I don’t understand,” she said, and neither did I.

On the way home from my friend’s house, I thought about those people who were on the brink of chasing their dreams – those people who are at a point in their lives where they can choose the road they’ve always wanted to choose or they can choose the one society deems “realistic.” Or maybe they’re choosing between the path everyone pushes them to pursue and the path they actually want to pursue.

It’s a hard decision when you’re standing at these crossroads. Your first step down this new unknown path will affect the outcome of every moment for the rest of your life.

No pressure, right?

I don’t remember actually coming to that split in the path. Ha! Maybe I just skipped down the path so incoherently that I didn’t even see the fork in the road! (With me… it’s quite possible.) Or maybe the decision was just that easy for me. Now that I think about it – I did have a split in the road. I guess it was probably the point I started my dance studio. For those who have been reading the blog, you know the story, but here’s the quick catch-up: I was working the typical nine-to-fiver and just knew that life wasn’t for me, so I quit my job and (as cliché as it might sound) followed my heart and pursued a career in dance. For me, it was a no-brainer.

I was lucky enough to have an easy decision, but I feel for those who struggle with their direction, especially those dreamers who have watchful eyes surrounding them – watchful “realistic-thinking” eyes. Or those who believe great ambitions are expected of them, ambitions everyone has considered a reality for them since they were little, and if those ambitions weren’t fulfilled, the only reality would be failure. The pressure on these dreamers is immense, and sometimes dreams that started out pleasurable and adventurous can turn into tasks, responsibilities that suck the magic out of the experience.

My best advice to those people (take it for what it is and do with it what you will) – you HAVE to push away all of those thoughts and expectations. Yes, those people are important to us. No, we don’t want to let them down. But truly the people who love you will love you and support you no matter what you do. The tasks that you complete and the goals you reach in life are not always the most important thing. Yes, they make for some cool stories and they allow you to check some things off that bucket list, but happiness, true inner happiness, is the utmost goal that anyone should strive for. If happiness means performing on a Broadway stage or traveling the world or being a photographer that snaps that perfect action shot to grace the cover of their favorite magazine, then that’s the path for you. If happiness means raising a family, running a farm, starting your own small business, or simple adventures with friends, then that is the path your footsteps should mark.

Each life is measured differently. Each person defines success differently. For some, success is wealth. For others, success is experience. Success is family. Success is adventure. Success is compassion. Success is influence. Success is teaching. Each person needs to look inside their own dictionary and figure out how they (not the people around them) define success. But one thing that is for sure, one common definition between everyone is that success is happiness – that feeling inside that makes you feel like beams of sunshine are bursting from your heart, the butterflies in the chest, and the smile that slowly spreads across your face when you think about an experience ahead or a goal completed.

Happiness is where you find dreams. Pursue your happiness and your dreams will be there.

And by the way, for those who are standing at the crossroads, for those trying to figure out what exactly your dreams are and what path will make you happy. For those who just aren’t sure what their next step should be or what exact dream they should pursue…. Think about this: Who says choosing one path puts another to darkness? Roads throughout the entire world leave each other and then intersect again. Why can’t our dreams? Why can’t one dream lead to another? And if you’re at a point in your life where you see no path to your dreams, then by golly, make a new one! (How do you think those paths got there in the first place?) Choosing one path for life doesn’t erase the road to another. You may just be taking the scenic route…. which has better views anyway! Dreams can overlap each other. So choose a path not for finality, but for happiness. And if multiple paths are calling out to you, explore them all! That’s why God gave us four-wheel drive.

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

This past Saturday, I attended my local high school’s graduation. The Class of 2012 received their awards and diplomas and tossed their hats in the air in a symbolic opening of the door to the next phase of their life. Happiness, fear, excitement, sadness -  all the emotions mixed together as the graduates bid their classmates and friends good-bye and set out on their own course. Some of them knew what they wanted to do, some of them hadn’t a clue, and some of them were somewhere in the middle. Those people who didn’t know what they heck they were doing… That was me ten years ago.

People might think that I graduated high school with the intent to one day open a dance studio. Nah… Don’t get me wrong. I knew I wanted to clog, but I never considered it for a career of any sort. The funny thing is… my class joked about it being my career. On the last day of my high school career at my class’ Class Day celebration, a committee of my fellow students put together prophecies for each student. What was mine? To move to Pigeon Forge and become a professional clogger. Hmmm… Well, I’m not in Pigeon Forge, but it seems like the other end of that kinda happened. Who’da thunk it?

The guest speaker at this year’s Class of 2012 graduation spoke about being prepared for your future but never really knowing what’s going to happen. I guess Forest Gump was right: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” That’s been my experience anyway, but I guess that’s the fun thing about life.

That guest speaker was talking about things that I recently remembered learning about life. He spoke of not being afraid to go after your dreams, but having the understanding things might not always turn out exactly like we planned. It wasn’t a “Hey, you can go after your dreams, but don’t expect them to come true,” speech. It was a realistic speech. A “Here’s what you want to do, and here’s what you going to do. But over here are the millions of different outcomes you could get,” speech.

My class jokingly said I would go to Pigeon Forge and become a clogger. Who knows? Maybe they really thought that. As crazy as I was about clogging in high school, that was probably a realistic guesstimate at the time. And maybe in some corner of my mind, I thought that, too. One thing I did “know” was that I wanted out of the wee-teeny little town I called home. FAR away!

The view from my new studio! (And this photo still doesn't do it justice!)

Turns out – I didn’t get as far away as I thought, and I’m fine with that. In fact, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I couldn’t stand to live in a bustling city. I need my wide open spaces. And looky here! I own a dance studio! A small dance studio, but I have great students that light up my face whenever I have them in class. Furthermore, I’m moving into a new studio, and I can pretty much guarantee that no other studio in the world has the fantastic view like my new place! The perfect place for a creative hub – right in the middle of the beautiful rolling hills and countryside of Highland County – a place that inspires me so much today and much more than any sky scrapper, traffic light, or 5 p.m. rush hour traffic would.

In addition to traveling and competing, performing alongside some cool kids and adults, getting a contract with an entertainment agency, and performing at local resorts with my dance partner, I also am free to explore other adventures as well – volunteerism, traveling, writing, farming, and making some amazing memories with some amazing friends in a place that has beauty like no other. No, I’m not in Pigeon Forge or New York City or California or wherever I might find a gig to dance. Why? Because I’ve got the perfect gig right here. And while I get out whenever I want to perform and compete on bigger stages, I’ll gladly stay tucked away in my mountain home with my small, simple dance studio. That’s the life for me – my dream come true.

Sometimes there is no path for what we want to do. Sometimes there is no conventional way to follow our dreams – to live in an area that may or may not support a business that we choose to enter into. But you know what? As Martina McBride says “Do it anyway. Dream it anyway.” When I opened my dance studio, I thought “This is my dream. This is what I HAVE to accomplish.” That also made me think that I had to take my dance career to heights that would dazzle my friends, family, and fellow dancers. I felt was my obligation as a dancer and a dreamer to show those non-believers that dreams really could come true if you worked hard enough. And part of me thought “This is what I will do for the rest of my life.” Now, while I love dance, and I love my students… doing one thing for the rest of my life?? I don’t think so. Give me variety. Give me adventure. Give me more wide open spaces. And as far as dreaming big and accomplishing goals to prove a point, well, it’s all well and good to show those people who say “That’s impossible! You can’t do that!” But when you get to the point where you’re not just content but happy, then that is where you belong. It doesn’t matter if your happiness comes with fame and fortune or if it leads you to a big metropolitan city where everyone THINKS you should be. If you're happy right where you are, then that's where you need to be. Or if you know that you're happiness awaits in that big metropolitan city, then pack your bags and put on your traveling shoes.

I live in a beautiful location where many of my friends think it is impossible to live. I had many people tell me to “Get out of the county quick and make a life for yourself! You’re never going to find wealth and happiness here!” Well, I got news for ‘em. 1) Most people who dream of being a dancer, never count on being rich. And 2) While it may not be monetary, I HAVE found wealth. And you can bet your beanie I’m happy! And I’m living in the town most told me to leave and doing something most told me I couldn’t do. Plus, I get to have a garden, participate in a local theatre group, take part in fun community happens, and (most importantly) hang out chit-chatting with fun friends (sometimes all hours of the night) in an area where we don’t have to worry that much about robberies or violence.

So the moral of the story, kiddos, is exactly what that guest speaker said at graduation on Saturday. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” We each have our own unique trail to blaze. We all have different needs and different wants and desires. Do not follow the same path your neighbor takes because that path was made for your neighbor. If you try to walk someone else's path, it will probably lead you to a place you don’t want to be or a place you don’t belong. And why on earth should we walk through our one and only life on a path that was not intended for us? We’ve only got one life, so find your path and don’t walk… skip, run, dance, or stop and smell the roses if you want to. Find your path and don’t worry how close it parallels to what some would consider “realistic” or “successful.” If you want to be an actor in Hollywood, go for it! If you find yourself happy as a cashier at a store, then enjoy life and walk out of your career everyday with your head held high knowing you’re doing what you want to be happy. I’ve come to find that success is not a huge house or a big fancy car. Success is happiness, and most of the time I, and most of the people around me, are pretty successful.

“You can never fall cause there will always be someone to hold you up.” - Jeremy Hevener

A friend of mine told me this a week before I opened my studio. Since then, the past six years have been a roller coaster ride of emotions. Everything from on-top-of-the-world happiness to the lowest, deepest, darkest sadness I had ever felt before in my life. There were times when I felt so alone in the world. Times when it felt like I was the only person walking around on the planet. But those wise words my friend told me were true – there were always people there to catch me if I would begin to fall backwards. Not only would those people catch me, but they would elevate me back to my feet and help hold me up. They gave me the courage, the strength, and the inspiration to keep fighting and keep climbing out of my hole.

Another friend gave me another piece of advice – “Family is what you make it.” And family was what helped me pull through a lot of my dark times. Friends who are just as close as family, my dancers (even though they probably had no idea they were helping), my mother, my husband, and my cousins. Some wanted to help but really had no idea how to, and others knew how to help and jumped in with both feet to do so. It was amazing that I could have this many amazing and caring people in my life and still feel alone, but unfortunately sometimes it is possible.

Just a few reason I have to smile

Lucky for me, when I needed these people (knowingly or not) they were there to help. My cloggers inspired me and provided me with friendship and showered me with happiness everyday at the studio. My mother – well, let’s just say I could never want for love and affection while she’s around. My husband, who sometimes (well most of the time) never really knows exactly what to do with me, but I can always feel him sending supportive vibes my way. My friends, well basically one friend in particular, who by random chance or maybe fate came into my life at the end of my slump to provide emotional traction when I was slipping. And my cousins – those friends from childhood and adulthood who provide encouragement and support in the form of a bond tighter than any person would dare challenge.

The point of this post is to reach those of you out there who may be in this situation. Those who may feel alone and who may feel like no one out there is listening, cares, or understands. True – there may not be someone out there who understands exactly what you’re going through. In fact, few people probably will. And in my experience, if you can find more than one person who might understand exactly what you’re going through – then you’re pretty lucky. But one thing’s for sure, even if there’s not someone out there who can understand your situation exactly, I’m sure there’s someone out there that would lend a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on if you needed it. They may not know exactly what is wrong or what to do to make you feel better, but they want to help, which is the most important thing of all.

My #1 miracle cure - my husband, Robby

And sometimes it is easy to take family for granted, but if you have family members who are willing to show you constant love and support, then go to them when you need it. Of course, there will always be some blood-relatives that you inevitably can’t count on, but just disregard those people, and find the sources that make you shine.

We all have those people who are our miracle cure – the people who don’t have to do a thing but stand within 10 feet of us to make us feel better. That’s family. And that’s what family is for – they’re the place where you fall when you can’t stand any more.

"I think of dancers as vessels for a purpose greater than ourselves." - Camille Brown

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

In the 1930’s, America experienced the worst financial crisis in its history – the Great Depression. Children would wonder if daddy’s job would last throughout the week, and many mothers prepared nightly suppers while worrying if the food supply would hold out until money hit home again. Young adults who were on the brink of starting their careers clung to a dream that could easily slip away. The Great Depression’s dark cloud threatened the idea of the American Dream. There were days when I’m sure happiness would drain from the lives of those who experienced this crushing time, and I’m sure there were instances when individuals wondered when they would have a reason to smile again… Enter Fred Astaire. Enter Bing Crosby. Enter Irving Berlin, John Steinbeck, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Ginger Rogers, and all the other entertainers (both on stage and in print) during the 1930’s. During a time of stress and struggle, these artists brought a gift to people – a smile…inspiration…emotion.

Fred Astaire in "Royal Wedding"

Fred Astaire tapped and sang his way into the hearts of Americans everywhere. His innocence on screen and style and grace on the dance floor pulled people into the world of the light-footed entertainer, and Irvin Berlin brought Astaire and Rogers to the masses with movies, such as Top Hat and Follow the Fleet. Bing Crosby’s strong, deep voice provided the nation with inspiration and reassurance when he sang songs like “Pennies from Heaven” and “I’ve Got A Pocketful of Dreams.” Zany and crazy screwball comedies from the Marx Brothers gave people a reason to laugh and an opportunity to take life a little less seriously.

Of course, I didn’t experience the Great Depression, but I wouldn’t doubt that if I did, those artists would have been my saving grace. (Actually I would’ve hoped to have been an entertainer like that.) These artists did so much more than perform, write, or produce music. They used their talents to help lift a nation and its people through hopelessness and despair.

Entertainers then and now have a responsibility to use their talents for a purpose greater than themselves – to inspire those around them to follow their dreams, to provide entertainment and happiness to audiences, and maybe teach a student something to propel them forward in their search for whatever will make their life shine, whether it be a happy marriage or a career making movies in Hollywood.

I count my lucky stars that I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food on the table every evening. And even though gas prices keep rising, there’s no blues that can’t be brightened when I slip on my dance shoes or settle into my seat before a movie or live stage show. The performing arts gives people a reason to smile, to laugh, to cry, to feel. It may be a big screen movie that touches your heart or a fast-paced stage production that gives you goose bumps or produces that excited, tingling feeling in your chest.

Of course, dancers and entertainers are not the only talented beings on the planet that possess the ability to put a smile on someone’s face, make a difference, or even change lives. We all have that ability in us with skills like good listening, kindness, volunteerism, and a plethora of other talents. A friend of mine told me once that she must be an easy person to talk to because people (both of whom she knows well and doesn’t know at all) open up to her telling her their problems, fears, and dilemmas. She says she doesn’t know why they decide to open up to her, but apparently my friend has a gift, a quality that makes her approachable, trustworthy and able to help her peers just by lending an ear. Fred Astaire had his ability to entertain. Bing Crosby had his voice, and my friend has her welcoming vibes. What's your gift?

"To unpathed waters, undreamed shores." - William Shakespeare

Choose to Chance the Rapids

When I was a kid, I never wanted to spend the night at my friend’s house. I would always come up with an excuse for my friends to stay at my house, so I didn’t have to go to theirs. I didn’t feel comfortable outside of my home. Nor did I feel comfortable being alone. In fact, I was slightly terrified to be left by myself.

I was also the kid who got picked on at school and the one who would more than likely be chosen last when picking teams for kickball. I was never the obvious leader and was probably the last person the teacher or my classmates would pick to be in charge of a group. While I wouldn’t really classify myself as shy, I definitely desired to keep a low profile.

My, how times have changed…

Isn’t it funny that now, twenty years later, I find myself traveling here and there and everywhere, sometimes with travel companions and sometimes cross-country totally by myself. My eight-year-old self, who was sometimes too scared to stay overnight at her cousin’s house across the street, wouldn’t know what to make of me today.

And if someone would have told her that today she would be leading three dance teams and own her own dance studio, productions company, and small web design firm, I don’t think she would have believed them.

The View from the Mountain Top in Montenegro

And then of course, there was my recent trip to Europe. I know there are many people in the world that may have hiked to the top of a fjord in Montenegro many times in their lives, but for a little country bumpkin from the mountains of Virginia, that’s something I never really thought I’d ever have the chance to do.

Now, I’m by no means bragging on myself. As Denzel Washington said “Luck is where opportunity meets preparation,” and I definitely had some luck and opportunity come my way.

But my point is (as Tim McGraw’s newest song says) “I’m learning who you’ve been ain’t who you’ve gotta be.” Although I may have been the dorky, unpopular, awkward, eight-year-old at one point in my life, that doesn’t mean I have to be awkward and scared today (though I may still happily retain a little of the dorkiness from time to time.) And even though I once had a fear of the unknown, it doesn’t mean I’m going to retain that fear today and sit idly by as possibilities and opportunities pass me by. Maybe I’ve learned from my fears. I guess that scared eight-year-old taught me a thing or two about living – to not let natural fears and born-into limitations restrict the rest of your life. No matter where we are from, who we are surrounded by, or how much money we have or don’t have, there is always a way to accomplish our goals and see our dreams come to life. I have seen too many possibilities in my life to believe in impossibility.

Clutching the Railing While Pulling Out of Barcelona

Another fear I have is a fear of water and ships. Did I mention the trip to Europe was a two-week cruise in the Mediterranean? I was terrified driving up to the ship, terrified when I boarded, and terrified to the point of tears as I stood clutching the railing of my balcony as the ship traveled farther and farther away from land. I knew I would be, but I wanted that experience, and I was ready to fight for it. And guess what? I won.

"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it." - Edith Sitwell

Every now and again a blogger has to have a rant post, right? Well, here I go:

Yes, I do tend to have a temper sometimes, and yes, sometimes I do get worked up over little things, but as I tried to enjoy the mediocre Super Bowl half-time show last night, I really got riled up when “MIA” (or whatever her name is) felt the need to thoroughly “express herself” in front of the audience. “What the…???” I said to myself. “Really?”

This leads me to another story: When I went on a Mediterranean cruise last fall, I got off the ship in Civitvecchia, Italy. My friend and I were waiting for our guide when another guide asked if he could help us with anything. I turned to him and said “No, thank you. We’re waiting for our guide.” I saw the man look a bit surprised when he heard my voice.

After narrowing his eyebrows in confusion, the man asked me “Where are you from?”

“From America,” I replied.

“Interesting,” the man said. “You don’t look like an American.”

A bit confused, I asked the man what he meant, and he proceeded to tell me in so many words (and more politely, of course) that I didn’t look fat, ugly, or stupid. He said most Americans he encounters are overweight, rude, and lazy.

Fast forward a few months to the Super Bowl... I couldn’t help but think of that Italian guide when Miss. MIA decided to represent America and herself on national television the only way she knew how – with her middle finger and her crotch. Wow… Is this what our country is coming to?

Now don’t get me wrong. I AM proud to be an American, and I told that little Italian guy that I’m sorry for the rude Americans he had encountered, but reassured him we are not all like that, that there are some Americans out there who know how to act properly and who work hard everyday. And I’m not saying the opinionated entertainer at the Super Bowl didn’t work hard to get her opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl. I know I would be psyched if I got to clog as part of the half-time show. But if I ever made it there, you could bet your last copper penny I would find a more suitable way to represent myself, my family, my friends, my colleagues, and my country in a better way. It’s no wonder Europeans have bad opinions of us when we have people like her representing our country.

I’m sure there were lots of people, including myself, who had never heard of that singer before in their lives. And maybe she was just trying to make a statement. Well, she made one alright, and now I (and probably many other people) will now remember her as that dumb girl from the Super Bowl half-time show who flipped off the audience. Way to go, girl, for making your obscene mark on history and giving our nation and our nation’s youth one more reason to believe that flipping the birdie is a cool and appropriate thing to do. God Bless America… (No God… Really… Please?)

Dance: Depression Intervention (No Rhythm Required)

I’m sitting in my office fresh out of the new year season watching the snow fall. I can feel the mid-winter funk coming on. The cheery Christmas warmth is gone from my house. The tree is still lit, but my husband is at work, so there is no one here at the moment to share it with. Christmas presents have been given. Candy has been eaten. (Actually it is still being eaten.) The new year has come and gone. No more Christmas music will be heard on Q99, and no more Christmas movies will be on T.V.

Apparently a close friend was feeling the funkiness, too. “I’m in a funk. Make me laugh,” says a little instant message box that pops up on my screen. I message back: “I’m in a funk, too.” This friend is also one of my dancers and always says dancing makes her feel better when she’s unhappy. “Go to dance class!” she suggests.

“Emergency dance break!” I agree. So I sent her my proposal: “Okay. Stand up in the middle of your office and bust a move.”

“I will if you will,” pops up in the instant message box.

“Ok… GO!!!” I send.

I stand up. A smile starts to edge across my face. I bust out into a dorky dance similar to that of Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I goof around for a little bit, stop in the middle of the room, giggle, and replace myself at my desk. (It’s no wonder my sister affectionately calls me “the goof.”) I type: “Are you dancing?”

“That cracked me up!” my friend responded. “Do you know how stupid it feels to do the salsa without music all by yourself?”

“Ah well,” I reply. “At least it made you laugh.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “Laughter like crying releases stress... but laughter is more fun.”

The best thing about dance is everyone knows how to dance whether they’ve taken a class or not. I believe movement, no matter how beautiful or ridiculous it may be, makes people feel better. Of course it does! It gets your blood pumping! (Add several funny women together in a room like my Wednesday night adult Clogging class or my competition team Rhythmic Alliance that you see to the left, and you’ve got yourself a good little dose of laugh therapy!)

Many studies suggest that engaging in physical activity, such as dancing, not only promotes better physical well-being but encourages a more positive attitude and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. Individuals diagnosed with major depression have shown significant improvements after aerobic-exercise intervention – improvements similar to that of psychotropic treatments, or treatments affecting the central nervous system. In addition, physically-active patients had significantly lower relapse rates than those on medication. And did you know that consistent physical activity may even prevent depression?

So the next time you’re having a bad day. Get up, and bust a move. Right there in your office. Just bust that move all over the place. Who cares if you “know” how to dance or not? Who cares if people are watching? (You might actually put a smile on someone’s face!)

And if you’re looking for something to rid yourself of the winter, after-holiday, it’s-still-three-months-until-spring blues, consider enrolling in a dance class. My Wednesday night ladies will tell you nothing makes them feel better than dancing and laughing with a few good friends. And it’s a great way to work off the Christmas cookies and candy, too!

"It's Kind of Fun to do the Impossible." - Walt Disney

As most of my friends know (and my blog followers have probably figured out) I’m a fan of quotes. A friend of mine (and also a very smart clogging student) recently posted this Loren Cunningham quote on Facebook: “Young people do the impossible before they find out it’s impossible - that's why God uses them so often.” So when, where, and why do we grow out of the belief that our biggest goals and dreams are possible?

I’ll admit I’ve thought a few things in my life would never happen. I always wanted to go to Europe but to have the money to travel around the world and visit one European destination was something I figured I wouldn’t experience until I was at least 40 and had a stronger financial grounds. (Don’t ask me why I think 40 is the magic age…) But just a few short weeks ago at the age of 27, I found myself marveling at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, taking a gondola ride in Venice, Italy, hiking to a ancient fortress in the fjords of Kotor, Montenegro, and posing for a picture at the Pompeii ruins with Mt. Vesuvius in the background (photo to the right.) In all, I visited five European countries. To think about it today, it feels like I’m remembering a dream. (My next goal is Ireland.)

When I told my younger cloggers I would be gone for a couple weeks because I would be in Europe, they excitedly rushed up to me and asked where in Europe I was traveling and if I was going to see “that leaning tower.” I laughed and told them I didn’t know exactly where I was going to be able to go, but the leaning tower was on my list of things to see. Then one little girl piped up and said “I’m going to see that one day.”

Turn the page to an adult conversation – would most adults have the same definitive attitude as my younger junior clogger did? That this is something they will see one day? Some adults may say they wish they could go see the Eiffel Tower, but they inevitably find an excuse in one way or another as to why they can’t go - that it’s impossible.

I guess I have not grown-up completely because I don’t believe anything is impossible. Again I’ll admit that I had my doubts, but I knew if the right chance and opportunity presented itself then I would indeed get to taste pizza and lasagna in the country in which it was invented.

But too often I believe adults dismiss possibilities before they even have a chance to become reality. Is it so crazy to believe you could quit the awful day job you hate to create a successful small business doing something you love? Is it so crazy to believe you could actually enjoy a sunset in the French Riviera (even though it may not be on a multi-million dollar yacht) just like the millionaires who frequently vacation there? Is it crazy to believe that you could become a singer or an actress or a dancer the way you always dreamed you would when you were a child?

To say that something is impossible or simply can’t happen is only living life halfway. I’m sure I’ve said this in past posts, and I’m sure I’ll say it in many future posts, but we only get one life to live. Don’t let it pass you by. Seize the day. Grab life by the horns. And don’t be afraid of possibility and dreams becoming reality. After all, where’s the fun in not pushing the boundaries?

Santa = Stress??

As I scrolled through stories on a health website, I saw a headline that read “Control Your Stress During the Holidays.” I scrolled further to find “8 Easy Tips to Keep Your Stress in Check This Holiday Season.” And even further down, I read “Simple Ways to Beat Holiday Stress.” Did I miss something? When and why did Christmas become so stressful??

Yes, I know we’re all running this way and that to get the tree trimmed, the house decorated perfectly, and gifts purchased for our loved ones (and some that aren’t so loved), but why do we put these tasks in our “stressful” column.

So have our lives become so complicated that we can’t pull enjoyment from a sparkling Christmas tree? What exactly do we put in our stressful column? Everything? Why are we not taking the time to enjoy everything we do instead of complaining about it?

I've had the Christmas Spirit from day one!

Christmas has always been (and still is) my favorite time of the year. It’s the only time of the year when I feel carefree and less stressed. When I was a little girl, I remember the smell of good food. I remember the site of my mom in the kitchen preparing tons of holiday treats. I remember being so excited about seeing my cousins at family get-togethers or watching movies with my dad on Christmas Eve before I attempted to overcome my excitement and go to sleep. I remember waking up Christmas morning and running down to our living room to see our 10-foot tall Christmas tree decorated to the max with stacks of presents underneath. I remember finding a half-eaten plate of cookies next to the fireplace and a note with the most beautiful script handwriting – handwriting that only Santa himself could produce. Those happy memories continued through the years and still continue today. It was just a few years ago that my nieces stood at the living room door and watched Rudolph playing in the yard while a big jolly elf stood nearby ho-ho-hoing. How could making memories like these be labeled as stressful?

My big sister, Crysta, and I digging through our stockings

And don’t try to use the adult excuse – “Well things are harder now because we’re adults, and we are the ones who have to prepare the food, and buy the presents, and plan a big holiday get-together for the family.” Nope, I’m not buying it. I LOVE buying presents for people! To see the look on my grandmother’s face when she opens a simple present – a picture of her family displayed in a plain black frame. I look forward to seeing the expression on my cousins’ faces as they unwrap and lay eyes on a very special gift I knew was for them as soon as I saw it. Being an adult doesn’t mean Christmas is automatically stressful. Yes, I know we have more things to do, but I enjoy getting out the Frosty the Snowman snack platters I only get to use once a year and stacking them full of pigs-in-blankets to enjoy while watching a Christmas movie with my husband and sister-in-law.

Maybe instead of viewing all of these holiday “stresses” as negatives, we need to take a step back and realize how lucky we are to have a home to decorate, money to buy a Christmas tree, and loved ones to buy gifts for (even the annoying, pesky father-in-law.) Plus, if you’re a Christian (which I am), why not reflect on the ultimate gift of all – the birth of the baby Jesus, a child who would grow and ultimately give his life for all mankind. Throughout the year, so many of us want to be loved, but we reject the season where everyone is giving love freely. Cue the therapist… Why do people automatically deem this season that is full of love, family, fun, and (don’t forget) good food stressful? The only worry I’ll have during the Christmas season is how long it’s going to take me to work off all the ham, turkey mashed potatoes, and Christmas cookies!!

"The future depends on what we do in the present." - Mahatma Gandhi

If Gandhi was right, that's putting a lot of pressure on every single second of our lives. I'm sure a lot of readers will agree that the older you get, the quicker time flies. Great... now that we're actually old enough to make our own decisions, we don't have time to... Personally, I have a long bucket list. At 27, I've knocked out several items on my list, but I still have a long way to go. There are even some items I've wanted to accomplish during my 20's, but time is marching on, and my 20's are quickly disappearing. (I guess I better get to work!)

Being a dancer gives me an even greater appreciation for time, and while I will always be able to clog in one way or another, my toes won't always hold up to toe stands and my knees, hips, and lower leg muscles will eventually start aggravating me more than they already are. Eventually (as much as I hate to admit it) I will not be able to dance the way I am now, which makes me cherish every second that I am able to dance and perform the way I do in the present. To take it all in when I'm dancing at The Greenbrier, to take every opportunity to entertain alongside amazing dancers on a competitive stage, and to welcome new adventures with open arms because I don't know just where they might lead.

But if the future depends on what we do in the present, how do we know we're always making the right decisions? The littlest of opportunities that we pass by could unfold into the greatest accomplishment or adventure of our lifetime. So many of us have a goal that we often dream of and fantasize about but continue to put off. I'll do that one day, we think. One day I will quit my boring day job and open the business I've always wanted to, or One day I will take a road trip across the country, or One day I will take that extra step to shoot for my dream. But what happens when that one day never comes? What happens when fear, procrastination, or simply not believing gets in the way? We only get one life to live, people, and here's the other thing to think about - the only guarantee is that we will live until we die. I could go until I'm 98 or I could only live to see 28.

So if you have a dream, a goal, or just something you've always wanted to do, now is the time. Don't think. Do! Yes, the future does depend on what we do in the present. To be frank (and in this case I believe that's the best way to be) if you want to have a future full of self-doubt with thoughts along the lines of I wonder what would have happened if I... then that's your choice. But if you want to leave this great, big world behind knowing that you have done or tried to do everything you set out to, then I suggest taking the road less traveled. Carve out your new path today, and if you're already on that path then keep on trottin'. Be true to what you really want out of life, and let that little voice inside of you, your inner-dreamer, come to the surface. We only get one life to live. New paths and opportunities may be scary, but is it better to have lived and lost than never to have lived at all?? Living and grabbing life by the horns or a future full of what-if's? I choose to grab those horns and hang on for the ride.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller

This blog started out following my dance career, but over the years my focus has changed - it has widened a bit. I still love to dance, and dance will always be a part of me, but there are many more adventures in life. Adventures I plan to take, and discoveries I plan to make.

"Life's A Dance" will continue to follow me wherever I may go, whether it is to a dance competition, traveling who knows where with friends, or having an epiphany while sitting on my backyard swing with my husband, Robby. With this blog comes the good, the bad, the funny, the sad, and the inspirational. So take my posts for what you like whether it be travel, advice, inspiration, or just tales from a crazy small-business owner/dancer/writer who seems to always been running around like a chicken with her head cut off.

Life is truly a dance. Sometimes it's a waltz. Sometimes its salsa. Toes do get stepped on and failed lifts will always happen, but without these minor setbacks we would never experience greatness.

A Tribute to my Best Friend

Many of my friends, followers, and family members know how close the fight against cancer stays to my heart. This year, I have taken on the position of the Highland County Relay for Life chair, and I am having a lot of fun doing it.

I woke up this morning with Relay on my mind. "What could I do to raise a little more money for Relay?" I thought. I sat down with my handy dandy Relay for Life chair notebook and started looking through it's suggestions for fundraisers. I kept turning the pages, but nothing was clicking. Then, I came across a fundraising idea called "Paws for a Cause," and it reminded me of one reason why I Relay. So I decided to share my reason with all of you in hopes that some of my readers would make a donation on behalf of my friend who passed away from cancer three years ago last month.

It all started when...
I was eight or nine years old, my sister came home one weekend with a laundry basket full of clothes. I was sitting at the kitchen table as she walked in carrying what I thought was just dirty laundry to be done. She sat the basket down next to me, and as I sat there I noticed the laundry was moving! I stared at the basket with wide eyes and a confused look on my face. Suddenly, the basket toppled over and out rolled the cutest, fluffiest, most adorable puppy I would ever see for the rest of my days. Meet Auggi.

From that day forward until the day she passed away, Auggi was my best friend. She was there to support me through my awkward and confusing teenage years, she was there when I graduated high school, and she even gave me away at my wedding.

In January of 2008, I received a phone call that made my heart not just sink, but it felt like my heart fell from my chest all the way through the bottoms of my feet. I heard my mother's voice: "Something is wrong with Auggi. She can't walk." I rushed to my mother's house where my sweet pup was. I walked in to find her laying in the hallway. I tried to encourage her to get up, but the back half of her body was not working. I knew this wasn't good. After snapping a few pictures (left) just in case, I scooped Auggi up in my arms and rushed her to the vet's office.

I received news that Auggi had cancer and she would soon be taken from me. My best friend? Gone?

"What can be done? What can I do?" I desperately asked the vet. She told me about a few surgeries that might help, but were a long shot and may cause Auggi more discomfort in her last days.

We've all had those moments where we've just stared off into space, not knowing quite what to do... I was there. I clung to my Auggi dog and willed myself to think of something, anything that could save my special girl. Nothing. The only thing I knew how to do was pray and hope.

The next two months brought ups and downs. Some days, Auggi would walk and I would be hopeful. Other days, she was in pain. She began to lose weight, and I could tell she was in more discomfort. One night, I laid next to her all night trying to spend as much time with her as a could. In the early morning hours, Auggi looked me in the eyes and I could feel her telling me it was time.

With tears streaming down my face, I slowly picked her up, wrapped her in a blanket and took my best friend to the vet's office. I knew what I had to.

I placed her on the vet's examination table, and the prepared to send my Auggi dog on a new journey - one with less pain. The vet told me it would only take a matter of a few seconds once the drugs went in to Auggi's system. "Are you sure?" she asked me once more before starting the process. "Yes," I said through uncontrollable sobs. I looked into the eyes of my dear, sweet, doggie as she left this world. My hand, placed over her heart, felt the organ beat its last. My baby was gone.

The pain of losing my Auggi dog is still as strong as it was that day. Tears overflow from my eyes as I write this causing me to stop writing, cry, and write some more - a story that needs to be told.

Please consider following this link and making a donation to the Highland County Relay for Life, whether it be for Auggi, for yourself, for a friend or loved one who has survived or passed away from cancer, or... for someone you'll never meet. For a stranger that you will never know who is fighting the fight right now. Please help. And, please hope. Together we can make a difference.

Double Toein' It!

It's not everyday you see yourself and someone you know on the cover of a magazine! Imagine my delight when I received an envelope from Jeff Driggs, editor of the Double Toe Times magazine, and saw Graham and I on the cover of the newest issue!

Double Toe Times has been the must-read magazine for Cloggers for over 30 years. This publication is distributed to Cloggers all over the nation, and each issue contains articles about Clogging, listings of Clogging instructors and Clogging events, ads for Clogging merchandise, and routine cuesheets. (For more information on Double Toe Times or to subscribe, visit www.doubletoe.com.)

The cover photo was taken by David Cockerham of Mirror Slap Photography and was captured at the Independance Day performance of "This is America," a show written by Betty Cauley, produced by Terry Kershner, and performed by the Mountain Valley Players of Bath County, Virginia.

You can see this routine in the new Mountain Valley Players show "The Best of MVP... So Far!" this weekend at the Bath County High School Auditorium in Bath County, Virginia. Show times are: Saturday, November 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. This show will feature audience and cast favorites from past MVP productions. In addition, Graham and I will also be performing "In The Mood," a crowd favorite from MVP's World War II themed production of "Over Here, Over There." Hope to see you there!