Dear Friends,
Our Exit is Back!
Thank you for your patience over the past 4 months as San Rafael has been reconstructing the Freitas Parkway exit into a new roundabout, opening this Monday, June 8th!
I know the commute for many of you to class is already 20-30 minutes, and the detour to the Lucas Valley exit over the past four months just added even more time. I appreciate your loyalty and dedication to continue dancing with me despite the extra inconvenience!
Drive safe and hope to see you this week for Kristen and Karin's birthdays!
Two Birthdays and a Fundraiser This Week!
Please join us this week for TWO final Stop Drop and Dance classes before our two-week summer break. We will be celebrating birthdays for two of our regular members, Kristen Sperling and Karin Conn!
In addition, since our usual Wednesday Strength & Stretch class is cancelled this week for my daughter's 8th grade graduation events, I will be teaching a make-up class on Monday! Please note the time change!
Monday, June 8th 8:45am-10:00am
*POP-UP CLASS* Strength & Stretch on ZOOM
Join us for an all-levels, move-at-your-own-pace, 45 minute Strength class using a medium and heavy set of dumbbells, followed by a 30 minute Stretch routine on our yoga mats! Get a great workout from the comfort of your own home!
Tuesday, June 9th, 9:30am-10:45am Stop Drop and Dance @UUMarin
Kristen Sperling's Birthday!
Theme: Wear a shirt with an inspirational quote or word
Wednesday, June 10th and Thursday, June 11th
NO CLASSES
I will be attending several graduation events for my 8th grade daughter!
Karin's Birthday Benefit for Believe Music Heals Saturday!
Next Saturday, June 13th from 9:30am-10:30am @UUMarin will be a special birthday fundraiser hosted by Karin Conn, benefitting the not-for-profit organization, Believe Music Heals.
A note from our birthday girl, Karin:
"For my birthday this year, I wanted to support an organization that truly moved me, so I chose Believe Music Heals as the beneficiary of this dance class fundraiser. I’m on the board and recently attended a graduation for their Finding Your Voice program at San Quentin, and the experience profoundly changed me. The quality of the music, the honesty, vulnerability, and humanity shared through the original songs and stories were incredibly powerful. Some sang about serving time for crimes they say they did not commit. It was raw, emotional, inspiring, and deeply human.
BMH also works with hospice patients and adults with developmental and psychological disabilities, using music, songwriting, and creative expression to bring comfort, connection, healing, and joy to people facing enormous life challenges. I left the San Quentin experience forever changed and with an even deeper belief in the power of music to transform lives."
Even if you cannot make our Stop Drop and Dance class, your donation is greatly appreciated! Thank you for all your love and support for Karin and Believe Music Heals, whose mission is: "We are a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing healing and hope through music to those who need it most."
Karin's theme will be VIVA LAS VEGAS, BABY!
"Grace asked me what my birthday dance class theme would be while I was in Las Vegas for three Phish shows at The Sphere. So of course… Viva Las Vegas, Baby! Think Vegas glam, disco sparkle, casino chic, rockstar energy, Elvis vibes, showgirls, sequins, fringe, feathers, sunglasses, faux fur, gold chains, poker visors, vintage cocktail dresses, flashy button downs, jumpsuits, cowboy boots, tux tees, neon, or anything that screams “what happens in Vegas…”
Tuesday, June 16th to Saturday, June 27th
NO CLASSES
I will be traveling to Osaka and Fukuoka with my family!
All previously-live classes are always recorded and available on-demand for you to take at your own convenience. Members have unlimited free access and non-members can purchase classes a-la-carte on our website. Thank you for your understanding!
Click here to support Karin Conn and Believe Music Heals!
This is What 50 Looks Like!
Happiest birthday to our rockstar dancer, Sara Rainbolt, whom we celebrated this past Tuesday for a full 75 minute Stop Drop and Dance party!
Sara chose the fitting outfit theme of MADONNA and everyone really showed up in character!!! Dancers came in tutus, corsets, miniskirts, side ponytails, headbands, jewelry, and Sara also brought jelly bracelets and fishnet hand gloves for everyone! Thank you to Lisa Butcher, who went all out on a Madonna backdrop including printing out photos of all of Madonna’s album covers for the decoration! What a fun theme!
Sara is our queen of not only dancing, but also baking the most delicious cookies. She also has the biggest heart and we love making her cry in the best way (it was her 8th grade son’s graduation week too… so lots of big emotions at once!). We were honored to celebrate Sara's milestone 50th birthday!
We love you Sara! You make turning 50 look like you’re turning 30!!!
Dancers in the Wild Highlights!
We love to see our Power With Grace community connecting both inside and outside of our classes. Thank you for sharing your Dancers in the Wild highlights and for making our community what it is: a place of belonging, expression, acceptance, joy, and fun!
Top Left
This is not the first time Tanya Burdick's cat, Nissa, joined in with Tanya on one of our previously-live recorded on-demand classes. Nissa loves exercising too and this day was a Stevie Wonder soundtrack Strength and Stretch class!
Top Right
Congratulations to Nicole Bailey, who was featured this past week in the Marin IJ's email blast on her children's book, "Multicolored Monono!" Learn more about Nicole's book on her website, https://laneofourown.com.
Middle Left
Over Memorial Day weekend, for the second year in a row, our usually-Tuesday dancers Anna Carr, Sharon Mor, Jennifer Gonzalez, and Marnina Young, performed in Carnaval San Francisco! Save the date for a birthday class for Anna and Jennifer on Tuesday, June 29th!
Middle Right
This past Wednesday, Kristen Sperling invited everyone on our WhatsApp group to a birthday silent disco party at Ross Commons, led by the incredible Michell Kawaja, owner of Operation JoyLab! We can't wait to celebrate Kristen this Tuesday again! (PS - our WhatsApp invite link is open to all and you can scan the QR code on our check-in table!).
Bottom Left
Happy Birthday to Michelle Squire, who is usually a Saturday dancer, but came this past Thursday because it was her actual birthday! It was the first time she came up on camera to the front of the room, and we should all follow her example to take off work and DANCE on your birthday!
Bottom Right
This past Saturday class, UUMarin was accidentally double booked and we had to dance in the "Wright" Room downstairs. A little smaller, a little darker, and a whole lot hotter. How lucky are we to dance in the beautiful Fellowship Hall every class! Thank you for being flexible and understanding!
"Dance is bigger than the physical body. When you extend your arm, it doesn't stop at the end of your fingers, because you're dancing bigger than that, you're dancing spirit."
- Judith Jamison
With love,
Grace
