The Surprise Proposal
/Our Boulder life began mid-December of 2013, two and a half years after we met and fell in love. It felt like we had escaped, “threaded the needle” and got out right in time.
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THE SURPRISE PROPOSAL
The first year in Colorado was rough. Nick was traveling internationally 2-3 weeks out of every month, and I felt alone, isolated and longing for the vibrant community I had left behind in New York.
New York was my long-distance lover that year, as I traveled back nine times mostly to teach, and two weddings.
During one of my spring workshops, I asked the room of 30 hoopers, “If I were to choreograph another dance for Figment, would you join me?”
NYC Hoop Workshop for cashama, march 2014
I received a resounding YES, and got straight to work on a new dance when I landed in Colorado.
I had zero clue that this dance would change my life forever.
While I had done big group choreography before, I had not worked with a group from 2500 miles away, but was up for the challenge.
With the help of several rehearsal directors, and the power of video recording, my dancers learned the dance, rehearsed locally, received notes and critiques from me in Colorado, delivered via the rehearsal directors.
I ran three additional rehearsals locally the week leading up to the performance.
Nick flew in with me and was excited to be there and support the documentation of the event.
We had a rocky start to the morning. I don’t recall the details, but I’m sure my focus was squarely on my dance, and not on my Beloved.
I learned later that this was a sensitive moment, and gave him pause about the question he was about to ask me!
Thankfully he understands the intense focus a production requires, gave me grace and proceeded with his plan.
Later that day I gathered my dancers, and was delighted to see past performers join us even though they weren’t dancing that day. Even some of my dear friends were there and circled up with the group. Everyone had huge smiles on their faces, and the energy was off the charts. I felt so loved, supported and seen in that moment.
I had no idea what was about to happen.
Pre performance circle
The music started and we began our moves. It was a joyful performance enjoyed by an audience of hundreds.
When the show was over, the dancers swooped towards me, forming a circle and holding their hoops over me in a canopy. I was anticipating the hoops to drop over me, similar to what had happened after a previous show.
Instead, I heard the music change to the song Nick and I fell in love to, and slowly the circle of hoopers dispersed around me.
Nick, with a giant smile on his face, slowly walked towards me.
He came close to me, wrapped his arm around me and spoke into my ear; he told me how much he loved me, and how proud of me he was. I was beaming. I still had no idea what was coming.
He then dropped to one knee and asked to make him the happiest man and marry him. “Will you marry me?”
I was stunned. I burst into happy tears. I couldn’t believe what was happening.
In the very place we fell in love three years earlier, this amazing man was asking me to share my life with him.
I shouted out, “DUH!” quickly hugged him, kissed him, and said in his ear, “Yes, I will of course marry you!”
Nick lifted me up in his arms, my bestie appeared with a bottle of champagne, the audience erupted into applause, and the photographers and videographers went nuts capturing the moment.
Our dear friend made this compilation video here. Be sure to grab a tissue.