Staging a Surprise
It was a hectic week for J. As artistic director of a children’s theater putting on a performance almost every month, hectic has been a way of life. However, this week was a bit different, and would prove to be life changing.
Following a successful fundraising event last year, the theater decided to host their version of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” again this year. J. was not only responsible for directing this fundraiser production, but due to unforeseen circumstances for one of the contestants ten days earlier, she was now filling in as one of the local “celebrity” dancers. Not too much stress added to her busy schedule.
Each local celebrity was paired with a local dance instructor, and given two months to prepare. The event managed to raise $20,000 last year, and hopes were for more this year. Audience members vote by contributing dollars for their favorite dancers in addition to performance scores from the judges selected from the community. The money is needed to pay down debt incurred after the theater had to renovate a new location, following the termination of their lease at their old location. Two winners would be chosen, one for the couple raising the most money, and a second who earned the highest scores from the judges.
J and her partner decided on a simple contemporary number, something that she could learn quickly. She was prepared but nervous at the same time. She so wanted the event to be successful, and she knew by the size of the crowd it would be, giving her a little bit of relief. As far as her dance routine, she just wanted it to be over, and so it was, in a matter of minutes, as she lay on the floor in the very last moments of her dance, the lights went out, she exhaled a big sigh of relief. But then, after the lights came back on, she got up to her feet, and turning, to face her dance partner to take their bow, proved to be a most life changing turn of her life, as before her knelt a future partner……
K, had visited me earlier that afternoon. He caught me by surprise, as J. my daughter was not with him. I had been working out in the yard when he pulled up, alone. For a brief moment, my heart stood still, waiting for possible bad news. After a quick greeting, he blurted out “I am going to ask J. to marry me tonight during the Dancing with the Stars event — on stage!” Then smiles, hugs, tears and more details. He would be helping that night with the lighting, and explained his plan. I would be going to the show anyway and would be there to see this special moment in my daughter’s life and in K.’s. I was able to alert her brothers who lived nearby so they were in attendance as well. Her out of state brother and her father were able to watch online as it was streamed live — gotta love today’s technology. In addition, J’s theater family, the children, her coworkers, and staff, all of who have come to love and respect her, were all there to witness this special moment in her life.
As you can see, K. managed to pull off the surprise of the century (as far as I am concerned) and her impromptu reaction was priceless.
October 21, 2017
