"Let Your Light So Shine..."

If you know me well enough, you'll know that developing my talents is a big part of who I am. Piano. Singing. Dance. These are the things I've been focusing on the last few years.

Lest you think I'm an arrogant diva, let me explain. I don't do it to put myself above others or to get praise. I do it because I feel a sacred sense of responsibility to build upon the ounces of natural ability God has given me. Before I joined the church, I had an opportunity to share one of my talents (don't remember which) but was reluctant to do so. A friend, Darren, told me about the parable of the talents (Matt 25: 14-30) which really struck me. Basically, God has given each of us the seeds of talents and is watching to see what we will do with them. If we wisely invest time and effort into building them up, they'll increase and we can use them to bless others and glorify God (Matt 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.") If we ignore or hide our talents, they will be taken from us and we will be condemned.

Matt 5:16 is one of my favorite scriptures and I have made it one of my core life principles because it is the best way I know how to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is all to help you understand why I so anxiously seek opportunities to dance, sing, and play piano. I used to hate doing it in front of others, but I now know that in order to keep improving and enjoying them, I have to use them to serve and inspire others (like singing at retirement homes or accompanying in church). I don't always know how it's helping others, but if nothing else, I hope that people will realize that anyone can learn a skill and improve upon what they have with hard work and practice.

ANYWAY, this blog is specifically about my DC adventures so let me catch up...

I've been going to The Salsa Room every week since I moved here 6 weeks ago. It's one of the few things that can help alleviate my dance withdrawals, which continue to plague me! Here are some pics from last week the club photographer took. It's nice to have documentation of my dancing there but I absolutely hate having him hover around and me trying to be photogenic all the time. Hence the awkward smile on my face haha.

Last Friday, I was going to go again but then I got an opportunity to do one of those "When am I ever gonna have the chance to _____ again?!" things. So I went with a group of ward friends to Federal Triangle to see the Street Festival. Jamie had joked (but quite seriously) that it's easy to run into Mormon YSAs (Young Single Adults) in DC because if there's a free, non-alcoholic, cultural event - we'll be there!

Getting off the Metro, we were greeted by the majestic Old Post Office

We watched one of the street performers for a while, a pre-show to the big event we'd all come to see

He got more and more impressive...

This was pretty impressive. The 2 people took turns throwing torches to him on the ball.

I couldn't resist getting some ice cream from the cute food truck I'd been wanting to try. Mmm peanut butter cup...

These "bush people" kept us entertained in the long ling

Obviously bushes don't grow in the middle of the road. These "bushes" would creep up next to someone, then scare them hahaha. I loved it. Just like in the cartoons.

And then the big event!! Modern dance trapeze artists on the side of the Old Post Office!

Magnificent

Awe-inspiring

They looked so free and graceful up there - it almost made me want to try it, although I'm terribly acrophobic

These men were dueling it out in dance

Amazing synchronization. The whole thing was done to live instrumental music (notably trombone and piano)

Saturday night, I was able to go with the Swing Dance group in our ward to Glen Echo, an old amusement park with a beautiful ballroom. The live big band was PHENOMENAL. I was in swing music heaven (I listen to 1930s-50s music on a regular basis). They were so professional and the vocalists were in the groove - perfect pitch, tone, and old-fashioned styling.

And then there was the dancing. We had a big ol' group of LDS YSA's show up, but I was delighted by the diversity of the other dancers - ages and ethnicities from all over the spectrum, all sharing our love of dance and music :) Sorry I was too busy dancing to take many pics! But I got this one of the instructors (who were well into middle age) putting the rest of us to shame with their superb lead-and-follow and stunts!

Stay tuned :)