Okay, I’ll admit it — this post is running a little behind. Between school, work, and trying to remember what day it is, the week of April 23rd through 29th somehow slipped right past me. But honestly? It was too good not to write about, even if I’m a bit late.

Friday (April 24th) we had our usual lessons complete with our usual great turnout and great energy... but this time, we chose to feature a guest instructor: Ashley Smith, our very own Cha-Cha Queen. Ashley finished our lessons by teaching her personal favorite: the Cowboy Cha-Cha. True to her style, she made it look effortless. It was a bittersweet moment though, celebrating her farewell to the Grand Junction dance family as she graduates and heads off to chase new adventures in Chicago. We’re so proud of her, but wow, she'll be missed.

Saturday was our big dance bootcamp, an all-day event that tested everyone’s stamina (mine included). The turnout was solid early on, but with a shrinking group and a lot of dancing packed into the schedule, we decided to wrap up a little early to give everyone a breather. Honestly, I’m not too bummed as I am aware that first events are never perfect, and this one was a great start. We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and set the stage for even better bootcamps down the road.

After that whirlwind weekend, reality hit hard. Between school deadlines and work shifts, I didn’t get a chance to learn a new dance or add anything fresh to my repertoire. But that’s okay. Sometimes you just have to let life do its thing and catch your breath before the next spin.

Even though I’m writing this a week late and running on caffeine and muscle memory, I can’t help but smile thinking back on it all. It was a spectacular week full of movement, friendship, and little moments I will hold close to my heart for a long time.