Hi Raul and dance group:
Finally I have a few minutes to answer to your many messages.
The end of this chapter of Dance Therapy is sad and full of bittersweet memories. I truly enjoyed the Monday laughter, the jokes, taking pictures, the cheekiness… It was a healthy social contact, with a few of us going for dinner afterwards to quench of our appetite following the strenuous action. We learned to tolerate with all our heart our differences, the chosen dances and the members we liked and those we didn’t like.
In general we had a climate of harmony and understanding. Unfortunately all had to come to a sudden end full of mandates, rules, restrictions, fears and massive hurdles to make things “legal and permited”. And it is right there where I got stuck remembering bitterly the prohibitions, mandates, rules, restrictions and abuse of power for those that had the privilege to be born in Argentina, living painfully under the military dictatorships of our birth country.
It was my wish and hope to farewell all of you with a big hug and a huge THANK YOU, especially with Raul that put his heart and soul to masterly guide our group. Maybe I would have wished to finish the last session with a very Argentinian Dulce de Leche cake, dancing a chacarera and Jerusalema (that I enjoyed like crazy). It won’t be like that. I believe we are situated in opposite sides of history in our beliefs, understandings and convictions. We do not see things in the same way, there is a big abyss . To attend a dinner “Just because the government allows us to” it is not in my future life projects or within my moral compass. In saying that, it does not damage or erase the love and respect I have for Raul and each member of the group. We simply don’t think and see things the same way . And it is fine, I’m fine with it and I hope you are too.
I farewell Raul and each member of the group with intense gratitude and love taking in my heart the great moments of friendship and camaraderie we shared while dancing. Only happy and sweet memories.
Massive kisses and hugs for all.
Teresa
Hello Teresa,
Thank you for your companionship, your good humour and
photographs, your enthusiasm and your honesty about feelings.
Each of our life stories meant that we brought a very
different background to this social “therapy dance” group.
Many of us have migrant stories, and the “old world” conflicts
and values still influence and inform our understanding of our adopted country.
The two years of COVID health controls signal different
things to each person. It may recall controlling
restrictions imposed on families which experienced war, government abuses, or personal
strife. Some have hard experience of family
health struggles. For others, it is present
family concerns or previous health problems.
Ageing or current illness issues also set personal limits.
Despite the differences, as you say, the sharing and acceptance
was rich and generous, bringing much laughter, fostering fine friendship. It has been very good “therapy”, fun and
camaraderie.
We will hold onto all of that… and continue to dance.
With love from Stephanie & DuncanOn Mon, 13 Dec 2021 at 17:24, <[email protected]> wrote: