Tiny Island, Big Heart, so Dance from the Inside Out!

Manhattan helped me to fall in love with the stranger again. The stranger in all of us is the child in all of us. We all desire connection, communion, being known and loved. There's no way on the island of Manhattan one can escape any of these circumstances. Some of the strangers who quickly became friends and reminded me of the universality of these desires are:

Barna, the guy who worked at Dan's and my favorite $1 pizza slice place around the corner. He is from Bangladesh and going to school for his Associate's Degree. When I'd go in to get slices of extra cheese, olives and mushrooms for Dan and I at midnight, he'd greet me with "Hi Sara, how are you doing?" He called me a week after moving to MA to see how it was going. I felt known.

Caedron, a guy I ran into one balmy night on the Lower East Side while walking and eating exotic yogurt (yes exotic yogurt). He was a fellow artist (graphic art, hip-hop music, and graffiti) and cosmically intuited that he should encourage me to stay in Manhattan and dance. We both shed a tear of wonder in the starlight over our friendly meeting. Encouraged.

Coffee Project, the little neighborhood cafe that instantly became a place of renewal, and soon my workplace. The sweet owners Sum + Kaleena took me in and treated me as family with their extreme generosity. Welcomed.

Amazing Anika and the Contact Improv Jam folks, who gathered at The New York Film Academy to Contact- the most grounding, invigorating, honoring, celebratory, and motivating hours of NYC I experienced. (Also strolling in Battery Park on the water before and after class was a joy!) Strengthened.

All the women who came to lunch at Maryhouse, who will remain unnamed because if we are all strangers and children, perhaps we somehow all share a Universal name. (No, I am not high...) Valued.

Lynx, Rose + Philip, a baby and her sweet parents I got to work with as a nanny. Limitless love. Family.

Dan, my best friend. Affirmation from Heaven.

A special and inspiring friend at Maryhouse who kept me grounded and affirmed in the mission there. Daily he welcomes the women at the door with a heart that is unparalleled and true. Without his presence and example, I'm certain I could not have done this work. Called.

Christine and Bev, my Hip Hop teachers at Broadway Dance Center who imparted emotional, intellectual and physical brilliance. Some of their quotes including:

*Dance from the inside out! (Aka: Don't dance like anyone else, dance like yourself)

*Why don't you all believe you are beautiful?

*Love yo'self!

*If you don't do crunches right you gonna walk outta here with a six pack in yo' neck.
Confidence.

Also, this tiny island with a big heart tries to enlarge one's heart (kind of like what happens to the Grinch) However, it's no Cindy- Lou Who, and can be down right mean about the whole endeavor.

*Making you drop a warm Nutella waffle into a puddle while jumping over said puddle crossing the street. Detachment. (However, a kind passerby empathized with me while letting out an "AWWW!". Community of the human family.)

*Having a Russian male model in no uncertain terms encourage (through discouraging) you to pursue your dreams and water the flower that you are because you are wilting. (The kick I needed to find my Hip-Hop classes!) Acceptance and Perseverance.

*Placing bedbugs in your path (which became a war path, thus discovering your inner Joan of Arc) Tenacity.

*Confronting external and internal shame and having to learn to drop that shit like it was hot. Awareness.

Hopefully now I have a bigger heart, fitting more people inside, like Manhattan does.

May we all dance (LIVE) from the inside out.

Transformation.
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