More updates on the way….

Hello again! It's been a while since I last posted on this blog, and I'm excited to be back. I've been doing most of my writing on Facebook and in personal letters to friends. Speaking of which, I rediscovered the joy of letter writing after my cruise on the Queen Mary last year, thanks to exchanges with friends Charlotte Carpenter Lewis and Heather Hutsell.

However, I'm now looking to move my writing back to this blog. Unfortunately, I've hit a paywall, which is quite inconvenient!

My biggest news is that I bid farewell to Arthur Murray on January 7. The studio hired a new instructor, Greg Mitchell, and it was clear that it was time for me to move on. I'm grateful for my time at Arthur Murray and have taken a few weeks off to rest and recharge.

I've returned to my old job at The Dubliner and couldn't be happier. I'm also shifting my focus to dancing for fun! I apologize if I've been slow to respond to messages; it's been a big change, but I'm getting back on track.

I've started teaching independently again, one day a week, and am exploring locations in Bethesda and Dupont Circle. I've been updating my website and reconnected with my former dance partner, Kat Pollinger. We've already started practicing together again!

I've been taking time to reconnect with dance friends, enjoying nice lunches at Tastee Diner , and feeling thankful and optimistic about the year ahead. I've updated my event calendar with cruise dates for the Queen Mary 2 and will continue to add events.

Looking forward to keeping in touch with everyone!

Back at the Dubliner

It's been a wild week in DC, full of unexpected twists and turns. But in the midst of chaos, I'm finding gratitude.

People come and go quickly here, which makes me more thankful for what stays the same. I'm grateful to be back at The Dubliner, where I've found a sense of security and belonging. Unlike the dance business, this job offers stability and security. Good friends, a steady job, and a supportive community are things to be deeply thankful for.

As I settle back into my old routine – working a real job to pay the bills and dancing just for fun – I'm reminded of the importance of community, job security, and following one's heart. ☘️

A Fond Farewell to AMCC

About two years ago, I was invited to return to the Arthur Murray studio at Chevy Chase. I’d worked at this location before, and it had nearly gone defunct, but it was revived under new owners who needed help building up their student base.

I accepted the job part-time and then made it full-time for a while. It was a wonderful experience helping build the studio and the studio family.

Now, I’m thankful to share that I'm leaving Arthur Murray on good terms, thanks to the wonderful bosses I've had - Philip Gofreed, and Jennifer Battle. They've treated me with kindness and respect, and I appreciate the opportunities they provided.

As studio owners, their goal is to grow and thrive, and they've found a talented lead instructor in Greg Mitchell. I'm happy to see him take the reins and bring new energy to the studio.

I had the chance to meet him on Tuesday, and I felt like I'd known him for years. Greg is very talented and no stranger to the Arthur Murray world or how studios work.

Personally, I'm thankful for the time I spent at Arthur Murray Chevy Chase. Being fully booked and receiving a fair wage was a dream come true! It's rare in this business, but I was fortunate to find a studio that valued fairness and hard work.

I loved working with this supportive team, reconnecting with old students, and making many new friends.

Now, I'm excited to focus on new adventures, including my return to The Dubliner ☘️ at the end of January! I'm looking forward to being back at the Irish pub near Union Station, where I've always had a wonderful time.

I’m looking forward to having free time outside of work to practice yoga and to attend Tom & Debra’s Lindy Hop dances.

I’m taking a break from teaching, but I’ll still continue to work on dance project projects , including my on going Arthur Murray History Project!

I’m also attending a Vintage Dance Cruise on Queen Mary 2 next year, hosted by Tom Pecena and Ahoy Vintage Cruises.

Thanks again to everyone at Arthur Murray Chevy Chase for the memories and experiences. I wish the studio continued success! It’s my sincere wish for all my students to continue lessons there.

I hope in the future, I can still be part of the Arthur Murray community in some way. I enjoy the rich history and the sense of community that exists at every Arthur Murray dance studio.

Now, back to work on cleaning out my desk, and organizing all these old photos!