A Humbling Experience

With each breath, I remember how lucky I am to be alive, and I thank God for the health of myself, friends, and family. It is so easy to take “the little things” in life for granted, but it is important to remember that everything can change in an instant. Nothing is ever guaranteed. As I let my feet sink into the earth, I embrace the sounds of nature and consider how fortunate I am to hear the birds sing. I think about how blessed I am to have vision that allows me to see the amazing world that surrounds me, and a voice to speak what is on my mind… I thank God for waking me up because today truly is a gift.

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I danced for the patients at the hospital yesterday, and it was a very humbling experience. Emotions stirred within me as little kids reached for the tutus, stretched their arms up, and moved their feet… I am so grateful that I could share my gift of dance with such an inspiring crowd, and it is something that I will never forget. It felt so rewarding to see the joy on their faces, and I hope that I can do this again in the future. Props to my friend, Claire, who organized the event because it would not have happened if it wasn’t for her… Thank you for everything!

Have you had an eye-opening experience recently? What have you been up to this weekend? I hope that you have a fantastic week.

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Just Beachy

A blanket of sand covered our toes, and the cool water brushed our skin.

Everything was just beachy.

I used to drive by the beach on my way to school everyday last year, and I would always gaze out at the peaceful solitude. Birds would occasionally fly through the wakening sky, and a light layer of fog would gently settle on the water. The sun would peek through the clouds while boats danced with the waves… I would long for that freedom as I sat in traffic preparing for another lecture-filled day. After months of fantasizing, I finally stepped into the water for the first time this summer, and I was so lucky to have had such great company. I had so much fun; thanks y’all! 

Do you enjoy going to the beach? Anything exciting coming up? What is your favorite thing to do during the summer? Is there something that you often find yourself longing for? 

Redemption

I stood backstage staring at the vibrant feather that I was about to pin back into my hair, and I began to remember January’s performance…

This was our moment of redemption.

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My bare feet slid across the stage, and my arms swayed to create abstract shapes that showcased the wonders of modern movement. It all happened so fast, and there wasn’t much time to overthink the steps that my body had instinctively began to do. I soared as high as I possibly could, and I felt like I was really able to live in the moment this time. Just like that, it all ended. Looking out into the audience, the six of us stood together and bowed our heads. The applause filled the theater, and our hearts filled with relief; we did it!

It was honor to perform with this incredibly talented group of dancers, and I am so thankful that I was chosen to be a part of this piece. It was such a wonderful opportunity, and I feel like I have grown a lot as an artist by discovering new ways to move. This piece has also inspired my own choreography because I was able to see how unusual movements develop into something truly amazing. Overall, I really loved this dance, and I hope that I have more opportunities to work with brilliant minds like the choreographer behind “Flight.” Thanks for everything!

Taking Flight

During a live performance, nothing is promised, and the audience experiences something new each time the curtain rises. They are able to witness the real-time mishaps and slips that cannot be undone or edited out. Each show is simply an unparalleled mystery to both the dancers and audience members because it is never certain what the outcome will be regardless of the repeated choreography. Even though dancers try to maintain a professional image, we are just like the people in the darkened theater clutching tickets in their palms. We make mistakes. We fall. We have off days just like everybody else. No matter how hard we strive for perfection, we will never be flawless, and that is reality.

Saturday, we took Flight, a guest-choreographed modern piece, downtown with peacock feathers perched delicately in our hair. To be honest, I am quite disappointed with my performance. It was an incredibly stressful night as things continuously went wrong, and I had to endure that defeated feeling as I took a bow. This piece will be performed again later this season, so I am hoping that we can redeem ourselves. As of right now, we must move on because it is going to be a busy week in the studio as we prepare for Alice in Wonderland in three weeks! I will not waste any more time thinking about the past. We have a ballet to learn. 🙂

Alice in Wonderland Casting!

We are switching gears at the studio as we begin to prepare for our February production if Alice in Wonderland. The Nutcracker, snow, and peppermint offerings have been replaced by a giant Cheshire cat, mushrooms, and small cups of tea… Right after the busy weekend in the theater, casting was released, and we started to learn the first few dances of this ballet. I am looking forward to performing as Alice’s sister, maid, and deck of cards lead. I am so proud of my friend who was cast as Alice, and I cannot wait to watch her shine on that stage. It is going to be a great show, and I am excited to watch this magnificent story unfold.

Family

“At times, we fight.

At times, we hug.

Sometimes, we are arguing.

Sometimes, we are laughing.

The relationship is complicated.

But one this is for certain…

I will always love my Family.”

~Maysa

New Birds!!!!!

Welcome home Kiwi and Olive!!!!

I am so thankful that I was finally able to adopt you… I can’t even begin to explain how happy I am to finally bring you two precious angels home. I have owned parakeets since I was just a little girl, so this past year has been very lonely for me. I need to let you know that I went through so much to get you here, and it was not an easy roller coaster ride of convincing! I promise that my sister and I will take VERY good care of you, and we are looking forward to the time that we will spend together.

It is going to be a great new school year now that I have someone to study with again, and I can’t wait to experience Sophomore year with you guys… I love you Kiwi and Olive. Welcome to your new home!

-Maysa