Bright Lights, Big City
Simply put- Our trip to the Big Apple was fantastic! It was a simple plan- take my Senior Company Dancers to New York for 3 days to shop, see a Broadway show, sightsee, eat, ride the sub, hail taxis and, of course, dance at STEPS on Broadway.
True to my heart- let’s start with dancing bit. Like those beautiful elderly ladies who still take daily class – STEPS has aged gracefully. Up the stairs to the main lobby – One can see that the facility has been modernized but still maintains that old, rustic dance school charm complete with worn wooden dance floors and barres in the lobby for the youngest dancers all the way up to the professionals to warm up.
Proud moment for me- watching our dancers take the professional level class with New York City Ballet principal dancers Maria Kowroski and Amar Ramasar. Even prouder moment- watching my students hang in that same class next to those professionals.
So many great moments from this trip!!! Watching many of the students and parents experience the city for the first time. The day spent in China Town with Crystal and Michelle wheeling and dealing for “quality” designer (“fake not fake”) purses while hanging in the alleys and phone booths to avoid the NYPD was something I will never forget! The group dinner at Luna’s in Little Italy for the tastiest Italian food and seeing the young Patricio getting a quick kiss on the cheek from Erica and their cute red faces that ensued.
My first Uber ride (ever) with the Spruill family and getting to know Karen’s sister Michelle better (single ladies put your hands up!!!) and laughing at her wild fun stories and loving that she and Karen both teach disabled kids and knowing just how lucky those kids are to have these fine ladies in their lives.
Taking my 81 year old mom to Times Square and being out-walked and out-shopped by her (Now who is getting old??? – Can I get a hit off your oxygen Mom)!
Our fun trip to the Beacon Hotel’s Viand Cafe and having a fellow diner eavesdrop on our dance talk.
Teaching the kids that though tempting – Don’t eat that huge Snickers bar from the minibar or it will cost you ten dollars!!!! Look before you cross the street! Yes – the rooms are small but the heart is big here! That ambulance screeching at 2 am and is keeping you awake really does mean you are in the city that never sleeps!
The train ride with Gigi and the entire Bowman family and watching James Bowman take his youngest daughter on the big ultimate NYC adventure (they went everywhere and anywhere!!!) even with his feet and legs killing him!!!
Playing Dutch Blitz with the girls (and getting shushed because we are loud and bawdy and out of control – even for the Café Car) and teaching the kids that every body of water we cross was not in fact the Hudson, even if Miss Jill tells you it is
For Me – I heart NY is not just a famous slogan for the world’s best city but a place I’ve brought those I love most too. Hope you enjoyed our trip to the Big City as much as I did.
Jill