30 Years of Transformative Dance

Dance is one of those unique art forms that is totally transformative, or so they tell me. That’s because it is a combination of viewing both the body and soul. Your arms and legs become your instruments and your spirit leads the charge. This is what I learned recently when I was honored by the Harrigan Educational and Cultural Center of Mount Vernon, where 200 ladies dressed in white to honor five women who were instrumental in the growth of the Harrigan dance group over the past 30 years, and I was one of them. Those of you who know me know I can’t dance. But I do believe that dance is an art form and thus I was given the advocacy award. When it comes to dance, I’m a couch potato; however, when it comes to advocacy I’m right there.

These ladies were all friends, colleagues and dancers. In many cases, their children benefited under the guidance of Dr. Joyce Harrigan who founded this company more than 30 years ago. This is an organization that changes lives.

Photo caption: Janet Langsam and Dr. Joyce Harrigan; L to R: Michelle Nicolas, Janet Langsam, Doris Phinizy & Maria Dautruche.