My Biggest Surprise Yet...

I love surprises, especially when they are exactly what I've been dreaming of...

The best surprise I've ever received came from a woman by the name of Laurie Eisenhower. Laurie is the Artistic Director of Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, a contemporary dance company based in my hometown Rochester, MI. The company has spent nearly 20 years dedicated to sharing a diverse collection of contemporary dance with the Metro Detroit area and beyond.

I began my dance training at the EDE School, and have always idolized Laurie’s dancers. For at least 12 years I have been observing the company, watching performances, taking pictures during tech rehearsal, and taking class from the company members. I wasn’t very good, but I found these dancers inspirational... I wanted to dance like them. Though I never thought it was possible, I wanted to dance in the company.

I auditioned last May, and I danced my ass off. It felt great!

But after days of waiting, wondering, worrying...

I panicked. I really thought that I wasn’t what Laurie was looking for, and that I'd be cut. I wrote Laurie, to tell her how much her company, dancers, ideas and personal strength has influenced the person and dancer I am today, and how much more I felt I could grow if I was a part of it...

It must have struck a chord with her, because she responded by offering me an apprenticeship!!!

I had worked my tail off for years to dance with the company, and now all the blood, sweat and tears began to feel worth it. It feels so good to conquer personal goals, even though after the initial excitement I realized that to dance with these incredible technicians that make up the company...I’ve got beaucoup work to do.

I hope Laurie knows how much that e-mail meant to me, how honored I am to dance for her company, and how proud I am to be a part of the EDE family.

To better illustrate what EDE does, click on Eisenhower Dance Ensemble here or at the top of this post to check out a YouTube video from last season. It is Fierce!