Relay for Life

Relay for Life 

was a great success: community, dancing, fighting for a great cause...it couldn't have been any better!  And with many of us having personal ties to battling cancer, the event was close to our hearts.

Here's a little taste of what happened Friday, May 30.  Enjoy!

Though we changed rehearsal to the afternoon, many of us had places to be in the morning, whether running errands, dancing in a Flash Mob, or getting our cars fixed. As always, coffee is a good kick-start, which gave us energy as we came together for rehearsal later..

 Katie and Kelsey arrived first, who had a meeting while we trickled in with excited energy and warmed up.

Then we rehearsed! We ran all the pieces for later that night.  There were some confusions about counts and movements, but we always find a way to communicate and work through our conflicts, whether with the dance or with each other. So we danced and danced..

...and took a couple breaks along the way. 

The more we dance with our newest member, Sean, the more we love him. Look at him workin' hard! 

With all that hard work, our bodies needed refueled, so to Applebee's we went! The salads were great, the service was not, and the company was divine. 

Then...finally...after months of preparation...Relay for Life! After getting ready at Katie's house, we walked to Amosland Park to set up our table. To support Relay and do a little fundraising of our own, we held a raffle for 4 different themed baskets: beach, lottery, fitness, and (of course) dance! We also sold Yankee candles earlier this year. Thanks to all who supported!

We lounged in the beautiful grass and soaked up the sun. We got a little silly at times, too.

Together we walked laps and made new friends.

Here are the Professionals together! This was after an inspirational speech by a survivor during the opening ceremony. It's always so touching to watch survivors, fighters, and caregivers make a lap around the field with the support of everyone else cheering them on from the inside of the track.

 And what a way to end... Antoinette may not have gotten to eat ice cream from the truck like she wanted, but she DID get to meet and walk around with Santa.

Well, we didn't quite end on that note. After all the fun and games in the park, we got serious and performed six CoEXIST pieces between the Jr. and Professional companies. We were reminded of the beauty in bringing together community and dance. Everyone was there for the same reason: to support the end of cancer, and it was touching to be there supporting the same cause with others, supporting each other.  This is what CoEXIST and what life is really about, and I think I can speak for everyone involved with CoEXIST when I say how proud I am to be part of such a strong group of of artists and humans.