Courage

Courage is stepping outside your comfort zone. Courage is doing things that are unfamiliar. Courage is being scared, but going for it anyway. Courage is trusting that your life will lead where it is meant to.

In January I attended a casting call for a Redken Hair show. I nervously walked into a room full of all sorts of girls. I had no idea what to expect. We were asked to stand based on our measurements, height, hair type, color, etc.  I was booked to be a model in the show! It was so much fun! They highlighted my hair (I wouldn’t let them dye it… I was too scared) and then styled it into what they called the “Wrap Star Ponytail”.  I got paid to let people play with my hair all day long... FINE BY ME!!! The stylists were all in awe of how much hair I had and loved playing with it. I’m definitely going to try to do more hair shows when I can... as long as they don’t want to butcher my hair! Haha. I walked in totally out of my comfort zone, but walked out with experience and connections.

The Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater had three successful shows in Vegas at the West Las Vegas Library Theater for Black History Month. I was so nervous for the shows… I really wanted to do well and perform to the best of my abilities. We had one children’s show where we performed “Phib” and  “Pajama Party”. The kids all really seemed to like it and it was a really fun performance. Then that night we had an evening performance where I got to perform in “Solstice”, “Read Matthew 11:28” and “Lifted”. We did that same evening performance as a matinee the next day. All were such fun performances. I was reminded yet again, how much I love being on stage. I loved each of the pieces that I got to perform for different reasons. It was an overwhelming weekend of emotions. I am so incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to perform alongside such amazing people and artists. But not only was that overwhelming, I was overwhelmed by the amount of support that I received. I had so many new friends come and support me in my show. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such incredible people in all areas of my life. I’ve always felt like I was here in Las Vegas and with LVCDT for a reason, but having so many people come out to be there for me was just another bit of proof that I am exactly where I belong. My family isn’t geographically close to me to be able to come to my shows, but I’m grateful to have more people that I can call family. Moving to Las Vegas has been the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was definitely outside my comfort zone, and I know that I am gaining more and more courage since I moved out here to do things that are uncomfortable for me.

LVCDT just got back from a residency in Prescott, Arizona. We had two performances and a master class with area dance studios. Again, I was just overwhelmed with the gratitude to be a part of this amazing group of people, going to other places and inspiring other dancers to follow their dreams. It was heartwarming. I love what I do and who I get to do it with.

I will soon be starting a teaching position at a local studio out here on Wednesday nights teaching ballet and pointe. I am so excited and happy to be a part of the studio!

Things are really falling into place. I always knew they would. It has just taken time to get settled into everything and my new life in Sin City. I am excited and hopeful for what lies ahead. I have the courage to trust that my life is where it is supposed to be and that I am headed down the right path. Everyone is capable of courage, if they just take that first step towards it. It is there and so much easier to achieve than we think.