Talking to Strangers (About Music) - Tara & Earl: Partners in Dance & Life

Tara & Earl: Partners in Dance & Life

06/29/20 • 52 min

Why are Tara Sanders & Earl Legister, Jr. together?
"We always connected on the dance floor," Tara says emphatically. And Earl agrees.
Of course, there is no way of ever knowing, exactly, what brings two people together, on the dance floor and off. That alchemy is long-studied, long-pondered. But for the last year-plus, the strange chemical equation called 'love' has Tara and Earl in its grips, and they are dancing together, and inspiring others to do the same, especially recently.
"When Covid first hit, and I was taking stock, I thought 'how can we spread joy, not the virus?'" Tara says. She is a yoga teacher, specifically trained in trauma-informed yoga. We met, Tara and I, at a mindfulness in education workshop at Omega Institute years back, and she'd reached out recently when I bought a house near where she lives outside of Woodstock, NY. But neither yoga nor mindfulness was what she and Earl decided to do to spread joy. Instead, they started making dance videos, lots of them, short choreographed dances, and putting them on social media.
People took notice, including me. I love to dance myself, and their videos were so fun and authentic. Then, too, after the George Floyd video, the fact of their biracial coupling...well, it seems a good time to talk about cross-pollination, about the love and connection that exists between people of different colors and backgrounds.
Listen in as we chat about this lovely couple's dancing, and their diligent work building community--check out more about Tara's yoga work at https://www.tarasanders.net/.

Previous Episode

Finding Common Ground with Southern Historian Dr. Edward Lee

I found Dr. Edward Lee on Facebook, not exactly sure how. He is a renown professor of history at South Carolina's Winthrop University, an author and lecturer who looks back with reason on the 20th Century. He has more than 4,000 friends on Facebook, humans of all kinds, former students, friends, and strangers he has made friends with from around the world in his efforts to understand what happens, and why. He is clearly much respected for his open ears and open mind.
Recently, Dr. Lee posted about his morning walks, and how nature reminded him of the great urgent need to "find common ground." That's when I decided to give him a call, and ask him some questions about history, how we got here and why, and how we avoid the mistakes of the past and find that more harmonious sweet spot where we can all live in peace.
Spoiler alert: "Education can level the playing field," he says. And "we have to make fine arts available to everybody."
Listen in to this meeting of likeminded strangers...it's always amazing to find kindred spirits in far-flung spots, people of different backgrounds and beliefs who can find lots and lots of lovely crossovers on the important things in the world. Thank you Dr. Lee!

Next Episode

Meeting Monica On the Trail

Sitting at a lookout on a beautiful Catskills trail, staring out toward the Hudson Valley framed below, I caught sight of a young woman running along. She seemed wet, and I wondered aloud to her if there was water from where she'd come. It was a hot day and I was looking to dive in somewhere. She came to a complete stop to regard me, and clearly considered my question a responsibility. She began looking in earnest on her phone for how to guide me to water. She hadn't been in any. She was just covered in sweat actually, she told me, laughing. I immediately liked her. I'm partial to redheads (I married one in the hopes of having redheaded children, but I didn't get them) and her sweet smile and dimples brought me up to chat with her on the trail. I am in awe of solo women hikers, especially ones like Monica who pull off the mountain-lady look with style and grace. And she grew up in the area I am just getting to know, so I was eager to connect. Connect we did. Monica is an architect and a gardener...both skills I could use for my first-ever home, and she loves coming up to the area. Her friendly forthright demeanor had me at hello, and I hope you'll listen in to learn more from this Hudson Valley local about the divides (towns on either side of the mighty river) and how nice it is to find friendly folks:) Making friends from strangers like Monica makes my day!!