An Emotional Evening
Thirteen years ago, I was introduced to a lovely, talented, ambitious young woman. She became my "adult ballet teacher" when I had decided to start dancing again. Very quickly, she became my friend. At the time, Kristen was using the ballroom at the Mary Stegmaier Mansion in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA for her dance studio. I paid her weekly for the lessons, and in return I gained confidence, strength, stamina, and poise. Her fee for dance lessons was simply not enough for what I got in return.
Eventually, Kristen started her own dance company, Without Walls. She invited me to perform as part of her troupe, and I was elated - truly over the moon! We rehearsed and performed many different pieces, from ballet to modern to tap. Yes, at age 28, I learned how to tap dance!
Along the way, the Mary Stegmaier Mansion was being used for many things - including monthly events where artists of all kinds were invited to share their work and their inspiration. It was at those events, in that mansion, where I fell back in love with dance. Having the opportunity to perform for friends, family, and strangers alike... in a building filled with grace, beauty, and inspiration of its own... it felt so special to me.
Last night, I had the opportunity to spend the evening inside that mansion - as a guest. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I attended the premier opening of the Mary Stegmaier Mansion. It has been renovated into the historical landmark that it was in its prime. Words, pictures, and stories cannot explain just how truly magnificent it is. The building is available for use as an event hall, for weddings, meetings, anything that needs a spark of pizzazz. Eventually, it will also be a fine dining venue for locals. If the time we spent there in one Extraordinary Evening is any indication of the success to come for this amazing property and its wonderful owner, Joseph, then the Mary Stegmaier Mansion is definitely one to watch.
As I entered the mansion last night, I felt emotional. Having the chance to witness the amazing transformation from "old building" to "breathtaking piece of history" made me take pause. I felt honored. I felt nostalgic. I felt so very happy. As we toured each floor of that magnificent building, I continued to remember each room for what I had originally used it for. The grand staircase - yep, I performed there (even slid down the banister for one of our pieces!). The dining room - yep, we rehearsed there. The ballroom - oh, my first adult ballet dance class was there! The bathroom - I don't remember it being this spacious... Many times, I welled up with tears, seeing the true potential for that space come to fruition. Years ago, spending hours in that building over years of my life, I often imagined what it might look like "back in the day". Well, I finally got to see, and it was magical.
Eventually, Kristen started her own dance company, Without Walls. She invited me to perform as part of her troupe, and I was elated - truly over the moon! We rehearsed and performed many different pieces, from ballet to modern to tap. Yes, at age 28, I learned how to tap dance!
Along the way, the Mary Stegmaier Mansion was being used for many things - including monthly events where artists of all kinds were invited to share their work and their inspiration. It was at those events, in that mansion, where I fell back in love with dance. Having the opportunity to perform for friends, family, and strangers alike... in a building filled with grace, beauty, and inspiration of its own... it felt so special to me.
Last night, I had the opportunity to spend the evening inside that mansion - as a guest. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I attended the premier opening of the Mary Stegmaier Mansion. It has been renovated into the historical landmark that it was in its prime. Words, pictures, and stories cannot explain just how truly magnificent it is. The building is available for use as an event hall, for weddings, meetings, anything that needs a spark of pizzazz. Eventually, it will also be a fine dining venue for locals. If the time we spent there in one Extraordinary Evening is any indication of the success to come for this amazing property and its wonderful owner, Joseph, then the Mary Stegmaier Mansion is definitely one to watch.
As I entered the mansion last night, I felt emotional. Having the chance to witness the amazing transformation from "old building" to "breathtaking piece of history" made me take pause. I felt honored. I felt nostalgic. I felt so very happy. As we toured each floor of that magnificent building, I continued to remember each room for what I had originally used it for. The grand staircase - yep, I performed there (even slid down the banister for one of our pieces!). The dining room - yep, we rehearsed there. The ballroom - oh, my first adult ballet dance class was there! The bathroom - I don't remember it being this spacious... Many times, I welled up with tears, seeing the true potential for that space come to fruition. Years ago, spending hours in that building over years of my life, I often imagined what it might look like "back in the day". Well, I finally got to see, and it was magical.
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