As I sit and reflect on this year thus far, I feel completely blessed by all of the opportunities that have opened up to me since I received this grant. I had been wanting to apply for this Grant for a good three years before I actually applied. I would talk about it so much but actually wasn’t proactive about moving forward with the action of applying. If you look at my promo video for the JTF Campaign you’ll hear what finally gave me the courage to put myself out there and actually apply. I could look back and say “man I should have done this a long time ago”, however I do believe that everything happens for a reason and in it’s right season. 2019 was and is my year to step out of my comfort zone and the opportunities that I’ve had and that are still to come definitely prove that.
I Started out my Year ministering in praise and worship dance at a Catholic Church. That to me is almost unheard of. I attended the SHE Tour Women’s Conference (Saved, Healed, and Empowered) and met Tracy Strawberry, the wife of Major League Baseball Player Darryl Strawberry. She is an awesome speaker and her testimony is amazing! Then I was awarded the Professional Artist Grant in the category of Dance performance, one of my greatest accomplishments. In February I traveled to Columbus Georgia to Minister in dance at Stop The Bleeding Ministries Women’s conference. God showed up in a might way, and it was such an Amazing time. As I was coming to the end of my second season with Sarasota Contemporary Dance, I was offered a position with the College of Arts and Sciences at The University of South Florida St. Pete working as the academic support for the departments of Visual & Verbal Arts and History & Politics. In June I attended the Trauma Informed Community Development Training Institute in Pittsburgh, PA with Sarasota Strong, a trauma informed organization and that literally changed my life. Also in June I began the Journey to Freedom Production Process and it has truly been a whirl wind but an awesome experience all at the same time. Then I’ll be performing at “A Decade of Dance’ exhibit by Tom Kramer on September 14th at studio 620 where he is showcasing many of the dancers that he has photographed over the years me included.
Now Here I am getting ready to wrap up these last eight months of the year with my very first professional choreographic and director debut of Journey to Freedom opening up in just a few short weeks. Sometimes I think to myself “what are you doing?” I began to feel inadequate and not good enough or worthy enough for these opportunities and blessings. It’s in those moments that I have to stop myself and began to count my blessings and think about how far God has brought me and be thankful and grateful and for what’s is still to come.
I felt this way a couple weeks ago and decided to post a video about it. Tap the play button to tune in to “Gratitude”.
Smooches!!!
