photo by: Andrew Weeks Photography

My favorite blog of the year is here! If you haven’t read past seasons’ blog, I love to do a gratitude practice each year in the spirit of the Thanksgiving Holiday. As a company, we just had our last day of rehearsal before a week-long holiday break to reconnect with friends and family. I’m using part of my break to reflect on what I’m thankful for within South Chicago Dance Theatre over the past year. Gratitude practices are something I do for myself on a daily basis, and there’s always so much to be thankful for with SCDT! Big and small, these are 10 things I am oh so grateful for after this year!

1. As it is our holiday break as of today, I’m thankful for a Director (Kia) who recognizes the importance of her dancers having time off to reconnect with family, friends, and return to the studio rejuvenated after a week of restfulness!
2. I’m thankful for our audience at Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley this year. That performance in June was one of my favorites and the audience seemed to be so invested and excited about the performance. It made me love it even more!
3. Our new partnership with Athletico Physical Therapy that keeps us all so healthy, safe, and provides recovery and maintenance when our bodies are working so hard each day.
4. A big one – our tour to Colombia, South America. What a beautiful place full of beautiful people and an experience that we will never forget.
5. Hyde Park School of Dance allowing us to use their studio space. I’m especially grateful for the sunlight that peaks in through the beautiful windows and makes our dance space so warm and enlightening.
6. Uniqlo socks!! My newfound obsession with them this past year has been amazing. As dancers, finding the perfect sock to dance in is actually quite difficult so a big shout out to Uniqlo – I think almost all of the dancers on SCDT are addicted to your socks!!!
7. The light-hearted and fun rehearsal environment we’ve created. SCDT is a dance family at the end of the day – we all treat each other with great respect and collaborate so well together that it makes the sweat and hard work a little less laboring and keeps it fun!
8. Biofreeze, heating pads, massage guns, foam rollers, lacrosse balls, and the occasional Advil. The soreness is real, y’all, and we will do whatever it takes to keep pushing through the pain and soreness.
9. My spot at the barre right next to the heater – it’s the small things, truly, and to keep my feet warm at the start of a ballet class on a cold fall or winter day really just hits the spot!!
10. THE PEOPLE. I say it either to myself or out loud at each big performance. If there’s one thing I love more than dance itself, is the people I dance with. They make it all worth it and I am so lucky and grateful to have found a home in South Chicago Dance Theatre.

Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope this list inspired you to reflect on the things, whether big or small, in your life that make you feel thankful! Enjoy the start of the Holiday Season!