Sunday, December 30, 2012

What Rhapsody Ballroom Means to Me: Transformed

Egland & husband Frank Sliwa at Rhapsody


Essay Contest to Celebrate Rhapsody’s 20th Anniversary
Grand Prize Winner: Egland L. Alfaro Roman (Egland Sliwa)


There are few moments in life when we are able to say that we have experienced some ecstasy in our lives. It is hard to remember sometimes how long the rapture will last in our lives; yet we are always searching for joy in one way or another. 

Paradoxically, we can travel only a few miles, and actually have great joy in a place such as Rhapsody Ballroom.

The first day I entered Rhapsody Ballroom, I was welcomed with a loving smile and a wise bit of advice, “Smile and never say no.”  Since then, I have found myself smiling and never saying no to a dance or two. This place has seen me grow as dancer and as a person. I have lived moments of sadness, like the loss of my father; and I have experienced moments of happiness such as my marriage, and the blessing of good friendships.

But no matter what is going on in my life, I know that when I set foot in Rhapsody Ballroom, I am there to receive the blessing of dancing, the gift of a smile, the ecstasy of knowing that God lives in my heart and that every movement I do, I do it with and for Him. In Rhapsody Ballroom, I have cried; I have loved; I have learned that there is good and bad, but most of all I have lived and learned that dance is a celebration of life.

The owners, Richard and Laurie Collett, by the way they reflect the rhapsody in their faces, a rhapsody that combines the ecstasy of God’s love and the joy of dancing, are definitely an inspiration to all of us. Thank you very much to them and for giving such an appropriate name to a ballroom where so many lives are being transformed.

by Egland L. Alfaro Roman

Egland & Edie D'Oliveira, volunteers at MidSummer Dance Classic
 
 

30 comments:

Sarah @ The Not Quite Military Wife said...

This looks like such a great time! Thanks for linking up with us for Mommy Moments!
TheNotQuiteMilitaryWife.blogspot.com

suzannah | the smitten word said...

so fun! my husband and i went to a wedding this month and danced like we hadn't in years. how fabulous that you have a studio and share this gift with your community! happy new year:)

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, The Not Quite Military Wife, for your visit & for hosting! Dancing is a wonderful creative, physical and emotional outlet. Happy New Year to you!
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Suzannah, for your comment! It is wonderful when husbands and wives can dance together -- both Egland and I are blessed in this way. Hope you and your husband keep dancing and don't just save it for special occasions!
God bless,
Laurie

a joyful noise said...

Loving life and the dance. Thank you for sharing this wonderful testimonial at Tell me a Story!

Unknown said...

This just shows what an amazing blessing you are, Laurie!

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Hazel,
Dance is a lovely metaphor for life! Thanks for hosting & God bless!
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Jen,
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! You and your blog are a great blessing to me & I'm sure to all your readers.
Happy New Year!
Laurie

Laura said...

Thank you for this peek into your passion! Blessings to you!

Unknown said...

This sounds fun. I should try this.

Hopping by. I blog @ Getting Healthy with Essential Oils

I am also inviting you to join Tiddle Diddle Handmade Shoppe's first giveaway event.

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Laura,
Thanks for your comment, & Happy New Year to you!
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Dear The Quiet Mom,
Yes, you should definitely try dancing -- it's great fun & healthy for the spirit as well as the body. Thanks for your comment & for the invite -- I look forward to it!
God bless,
Laurie

mail4rosey said...

I didn't know you had this blog too! I am happy to be here. :)

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, mail4rosey! I'm so glad you came! Hopefully I'll be able to post more regularly to this blog in 2013!
Happy New Year to you!
Laurie

Make a Joyful Noise all ye Lands said...

What a wonderful joy to be able to dance and enjoy your husband.

Thanks for sharing,
Virginia

Make a Joyful Noise all ye Lands said...

What a wonderful way to enjoy time with your husband.
Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Virginia

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Virginia! It's wonderful for husbands & wives to be able to share a creative outlet together, especially one that mirrors the Biblical view of marriage with the husband leading & the wife following.
Thanks so much for your visit & comment, and Happy New Year to you!
Laurie

caryjo said...

Very nice. When you are a blessing, God drops a blessing into your life through others who appreciate you.

Good sharing.

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Caryjo, for the kind words of encouragement! May you have all blessings in 2013 and until He returns!
Laurie

Paula said...

What a lovely essay! I believe that dancing = joy :)

Thanks for sharing with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party!

Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Paula! We dance to express joy, and dancing makes us joyful!
God bless you,
Laurie

Katherines Corner said...

Happy New Year wishes and thank you for sharing at the hop. I hope you will stop by again soon. I posted the new giveaway! xo

BARBIE said...

Wow, sounds wonderful!

Janis Cox said...

What a great idea. I love to dance too. I take tap dancing 3 times a week. We tapercize... lots of fun. But I like that you are expressing this to God - that is even better.
Blessings,
Janis www.janiscox.com
linking from Jumping Tandem

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Barbie! Dancing really is a lot of fun!
Blessings,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Janis,
Thanks so much for your visit & comment! I believe we can & should glorify God in all we do. So why not tap dancing? :-)
About two thirds of references to dancing in the Bible are positive, as a form or praise and worship, so why not tap dancing? :-)
Have fun & God bless!
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Katherine,
Happy New Year to you too, & thanks for hosting & for the giveaway!
God bless,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Welcome, Joan! Thanks so much for your comment & for following! I'm following you too!
God bless,
Laurie

Anonymous said...

Latest follower from the blog hop! :) xx
Http://www.curvyguruceri.com/

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Ceri G! God bless,
Laurie