September 21 - Third Place

This is a personal post because Pegasus Dance Studios is not just a business for me and my family but a place we love and are deeply passionate about.  As many of you know my mother, Lynda, and I were co-founders and  partners.  Lynda was a visual artist and I was a dance educator and the original name was Pegasus Dance and Art Centre. 
My daughters grew up here under the watchful eye of their grandmother who nurtured the artist soul in each of them and all the children who grew to know her and love her through art and dance. She knew each of them by name and even in her later years, when she was no longer physically able to come to the studio she would ask about her past students, wanting to know their stories.
Lynda, on her retirement (she never let us use that word as she was leaving to spend time creating and doing her art) left the Art department in extremely good hands to Steve McCabe. Steve has been teaching mixed media and fine art at Pegasus on Saturday’s for at least 25 years (we can’t actually remember), please look at our website for more information. He would love to share with your children the Pegasus Fine and Mixed Media Art Magic created by Lynda!

Lisa, my sister who many of you know as the Pegasus community care coordinator, decided to leave her corporate job when she had her young family in order to work for the ‘family’ business and have the flexibility that afforded her the opportunity to raise her children with the values she still holds dear. Lisa’s two boys and daughter took classes with me, their aunt, and their grandmother and Maya, graduated from Pegasus and is currently doing a postgraduate program.
Lara, Lia, and Briar, my daughters, are part of the Pegasus leadership and teaching team and many of you know them as Teacher, Production Director, Mindset and Personal training coach and Administration Assistants!  
We have been blessed to have many, many families and students come through these doors, each of them holding a place in our hearts (all of my family and Pegasus staff family) and for many this becomes their third place (a space outside of home, school or work that nurtures relationships, community and connection). For many students they call it their home away from home.
As we began our 34th season last week, the path that we have journeyed many, many times before felt different, felt a bit scary.  But as the faculty and staff came for our Kick Off The Season meeting and we shared our hesitancies, but excitement of getting back into the studio and into the hearts of our students, I realized that my passion, how this place has nurtured my family and all the families that have come through these doors, this path that looked so different is really not so different after all.  Yes, we are developing new procedures and systems, but just maybe they are procedures and systems that will make what we do that much better!  We relied on all our past knowledge, behaviours, and making them better for our 2020 season!
Since March 13th when we closed for March break, we have been preparing for our re-opening.  We have worked through every detail, showing that we are creative thinkers, resilient and more importantly passionate about what is the most important.  Creating memories, nurturing relationships, connections, passion for the arts, and giving a place for children to be happy, healthy. and creative, that is what we do. 
This past week was the best feeling ever, when we watched our vibrant community come together, come back to life.  We danced together, laughed, and loved each other as we found new ways to connect with our eyes, our bodies, and our spirit. Today I celebrate my FAMILY, our TEAM and COMMUNITY for believing and supporting our passion and vision for Pegasus Dance Studios.
While we head into the fall and its unpredictability, what I know for sure is this is a place filled with people whose passion is in finding a way to provide an important piece of our children's education, physical, mental and social well being.  A place that helps our children adapt, find beauty and grace in their journey. 
As parents, you are making decisions for your families that are not always easy and weigh heavy on the heart,   I hope that the work we’ve done to prepare will bring comfort that coming to Pegasus is a safe place.  We might not always get it right, we will stumble,we’ve had lots of tears and sleepless nights,  but we also remember to laugh, support each other, hold each other up, and learn from our mistakes, change and celebrate our wins.
It’s not always easy but it’s always worth it!  Heading into week two, we are ready to create a bit of magic and see where it takes us, trusting that we will find our way.
Thank you for believing in us and for all the love and support you gave us last week as your dancers walked through the door, by themselves, confident that they were loved, safe and happy to be in their loved Third Space!

Jane

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