Dear Friends,
Squeals of Joy!
My very first tank top was designed in March 2019 for my 40th birthday dance-a-thon that all my students, friends, and family members were invited to. It was a Heathered Black Racerback Tank with Gold Foil Lettering that had a cursive "Stop Drop and Dance" written on it. We sold out of that original tank top, and for those of us that still have it, the gold is now no longer shiny and bright, but rather muted and dull from all the times it has been washed.
I established "The Power With Grace" as my own small business later that year in December 2019, and since then, I have created eight more tank top designs, often with inspirational song titles like, "Better When I'm Dancing," "Shine Your Light," "Never Gonna Not Dance Again," or "SPICE."
Last Thursday, Lisa Butcher, Barbara Roberts, Erin Meyers, and Sandy Aley, were the first to arrive to Stop Drop and Dance class, and before anyone else arrived, we noticed...
"Hey! We're wearing all different "Power With Grace" shirts!"
Just a simple moment like that made us all feel excited enough to take a photo together. And then they said...
"Wouldn't it be funny if ALL EIGHT of your shirts were in class today?"
Class began, we started dancing, and every time someone arrived, we were all excitedly hoping... is it going to happen...?
A few minutes passed, and sure enough...
SQUEALS OF JOY #1!
Andrea Spencer and Debby Strenkofsky came in with our Black "Shine Your Light" tank, and Leslie Dinham came in with another gold version like Erin's. SIX shirts now! What are the chances we could get the last two styles???
Dance, dance, dance... some more duplicates like Ali Williams and Sue Schwarzgruber matching Barbara's newest shirt design, our "Stop Drop and Dance" logo.... then...
SQUEALS OF JOY #2!
Marianne Jacobson and Catherine Granville came in with our "SPICE" tank and we exploded with laughter and screams!!! No way!!! SEVEN shirts!!!
Dance, dance, dance... some more duplicates like Sharon Mor and Karin Conn matching Lisa Butcher's "Never Gonna Not Dance Again" tank...
"Only one shirt left," I said, "We need the RED LOVE shirt!"
Dance, dance, dance... dance dance dance... and you guys...
HUGE SQUEALS OF JOY #3
It felt like winning the lottery or watching an exciting Superbowl touchdown happen, because Megan Conley walked in to class, completing our collection, wearing THE red "LOVE" tank!
Our reaction was SO explosively loud that Megan literally froze at the door with her face in complete confusion.
Let the simplest pleasures in life be your source of joy!
This was the first time we have ever had a full set of all my "Power With Grace" shirts in one class! And that's enough to smile about, even 5 days later =)
A Tribute to Dolly
During that same Thursday squealing Stop Drop and Dance class, in honor of the news this past week that Ms. Dolly Parton has passed away, we celebrated her legacy by choreographing to the song, “Powerful Women,” by Dolly Parton and Pitbull, which is a remix of Dolly's famous “9 to 5” song.
Julie Hennessey, our newest PWG member, had also come to class with the perfect t-shirt that had Dolly's face on it, so at the end of class, we took a group photo with all of us pointing at Dolly.
In addition, Lisa Butcher helped to curate a special 75 minute "Dolly" playlist for our Wednesday 75 minute Strength and Stretch class. It's a beautiful mix of her fast and slow ballads, and it is available to watch from our on-demand video library!
Farewell to another musical legend...
Save These Dates!
Our calendar is constantly evolving week by week as events get put on to our schedule. If you have a special fundraiser or birthday you would like to celebrate, please reach out to me! For now, please mark your calendars for these upcoming events!
Thursday, September 10th, 9:30am-10:45am @UUMarin
Stop Drop and Dance Birthday for Catherine Granville!
THEME: Wear a mermaid or ocean themed outfit, and stay afterwards to check out some of the beautiful jewelry that Catherine makes for her business, Radiant Sea Studio!
Saturday, October 3rd, 9:30am-10:30am @UUMarin
Stop Drop and Dance Fundraiser for Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) with host, Lisa Hudson!
THEME: Wear PINK and join us as we dance for the 9th B4BC fundraiser and raise money for breast cancer awareness!
Saturday, October 24th, Time TBD - Approximately 3-8pm
Stinson Beach Dance Party (and Lisa Butcher's 50th Birthday!)
More information will come as we continue to finalize details, but what we know for sure is that Karen Wright has generously opened up her Stinson Beach home, we will be dancing literally on the beach with the ocean as our backdrop, Abel the taco guy will be serving dinner for all of us, we'll be watching the sunset together, and we want YOU to be there!!!
Please note there will be no regular Saturday classes on September 26th, October 17th, or October 24th (but Stinson is happening that night)!
Dancers in the Wild!
Top Left: Last Tuesday was Debby Strenkofsky's 6 month double knee replacement surgery anniversary!
Bottom Left: Marsha Cellar in Tennessee making 24 washcloth bears for her son's baby shower!
Top Right: Kathleen Dowd and Karen Shelton enjoying Sausalito Jazz and Blues By The Bay!
Bottom Right: Eliza Desch off to Orange County and Amy Poirier off to Korea on the Marin Airporter to SFO!
"I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life. I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. I re-read passages from my favorite books. I hold the little treasures that somebody special gave me. These small actions help remind me that there are so many great, glorious pieces of good in the world."
- Dolly Parton
One tradition that my girls and I started this past year was finding some funny video clips to watch together right before bed. It motivates them to get ready faster so that we can all hop into my bed and laugh until we cry (I love the snuggles and they love pushing back bedtime)!
From Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart playing the rock paper scissor tortilla game, to BTS bloopers during their concerts, to watching funny animal videos, it is a simple bonding activity that instantly puts us in a good mood right before we all have to go to sleep.
I hope that this week, you find something that makes you smile, laugh, or squeal for joy! Keep looking for the good!
With love,
Grace
