reunite.

Last weekend there was the first ever Contemporary Dance Theatre reunion for alumni dancers of BYU Idaho. I actually barely made the invite- I was on the very last CDT outreach before the university formed a new company called Dance Alliance. 

 (The main difference between CDT and Dance Alliance is that CDT focused on modern styles whereas Dance Alliance focuses on many different genres.)

 I have people ask a lot which company I prefer, and I'm always a little unsure on how to respond. 

Its like picking if I like my arms or legs better.

I can't decide if I prefer Dance Alliance over CDT, but I will say this: 

My first year of CDT was the absolute best environment for me to develop and nurture my understanding and love of dance. 

Something about the director- Jennifer Wadsworth, the dancers I was blessed to work with, and the movement that we took on tour- it planted within me such an intrigue and admiration for movement.

I also have to point out that most of the dancers on the touring team that year (many of which were at the reunion last weekend) served as a major inspiration for me during my undergraduate education. At the time, I'm sure they had no idea I existed. 

It's kind of funny how you can be completely star struck by someone you don't really know- and meanwhile, they think they're completely ordinary. You know?

 By the time I graduated, I'd gone on four tours (one with CDT, and three with Dance Alliance), and had a fierce desire to continue studying and pursuing movement creation and performance. 

There's no way I'd be where I am (or married to who I am for that matter) if I hadn't waltzed into the wrong audition room in January of 2005. 

And I couldn't be more grateful.

I have to say- dancing in my old studio, with my undergraduate teacher Wendy Bone was such a breath of fresh air. 

There's something about dancing on that campus that is magic. 

You can roll your eyes and say I'm silly, but its absolutely true. 

And we got to see the Dance Alliance show. 

(including choreography from Gideon and yours truly)

Magic.

As always.

And when you're driving back to real life from extravadance,
its always nice to be reminded you're home.

Loving life so much today, 

ps- thank you to Karli and Justin, who let us stay with them in their lovely home. An extra BIG thank you to Karli for forcing me to watch our first tour video, for all the memories and giggles, and especially for helping me plan for big dreams to come.

home

• a house, apartment, orother shelter that is usually the residence of a person,family or other household
• the place or region where something is native or most common
• any place of residence or of refuge: a heavenly home

There is something about being at home.

Something warm, comforting, and loving.

When I think of home, most times I think about my mom having warm cookies and fresh baked bread in the kitchen with candles glowing invitingly. I think of blankets piled on the end of the bed, just in case it got cold in the middle of the night. I think of family night in our sweet little house.

Sometimes, though, when I think of home, I think of another building entirely.

During my time at Brigham Young University-Idaho,

I spent about 85% of my time in this sweet, humble building:

it was, quite simply, my home.

I performed on this stage over 50 times during my time at byui;

and had countless more rehearsals to get those performances prepared.

...this was the place I prepared my audition for graduate school.

And since I had a key to the building, (and knew all the secret ways to get in)

I would often let myself in when I just needed to dance off a bad day by myself.

I got kicked out by security a few times...

(except the byui security guard was sweet, not this big, and his name was chad)

I wonder how many magical moments I had on this stage.

...a hundred? A thousand?

I think more.
(yes. that's gideon)

After all, this was the place where I found myself.

I don't know how many times I walked these halls.

How many times I took a delightful sip from this, my favorite water fountain of all time.(perfect pressure, perfect temperature, and the perfecet height)
And right outside Wendy Bone's office
(where I worked for my last semester)

How many times did I run up and down these steps hurrying to and from rehearsal?

Or sit under this lovely tree...

(outside of the kirkham)

to study my homework, chat with a friend, or just take a nap.

This was the door from the stage to the outside world.

But inside the kirkham- it was just home.

It was in this building that I first met Gideon.

Where we became such good friends.

This is the building where Gideon pulled me aside, sat me down,

and told me that he had 'more than friend' feelings for me...

(in this room)

...then, over a year later, after Gideon told me that he loved me,

this was the building where I got my courage up to tell him that I loved him back.

(on these steps)

and, when the most pivitol moment of my life came,

when Gideon proposed to me,

it was in this building.

Because of these memories, Oscar A. Kirkham will always be dear to me.

Gideon and I are still so young; and we have so many seasons of life to experience.

But so far, I think our years on Dance Alliance have been the best of our lives.

Each company became a family.

And when we came to watch this weekend's performance, gid and I just stared (jaws touching the floor) the STUNningly talented dancers as they blew our minds. I cheered SO loudly for people who's names I don't know; people who I've never even seen before. You can bet your boots I also hooted and hollered for those who I do know- and love so much. It's a totally new company- but to me, they've just joined a big family that previous (and future) dance alliances consist of.

That gives me an excuse to hug loved ones and strangers alike (till neither of us can breathe), and babble on and on about how I adore them.

So many memories hit me like a semi bolting at a dangerous speed this weekend.

This was my life during all of my university years. I should say, actually, this was our life. Because Gid and I both were (are) so passionate about dance.

And now, when we visit the kirkham, and rather than perform on the stage,
sit in the audience and applaud the

S-E-N-S-A-T-I-O-N-A-L

current company,

Dance Alliance 2010

"A Night on Broadway"

we're cheering for family.

(whether they like it or not)

And I think we know we're still at home.