[laura 2]

I lived through the 21 minute shimmy drill!!!!!

I'm still processing what I learned and experienced at the workshops. Aziza is truly one of the most inspiring and challenging instructors I've *ever* taken from. I was impressed with her one day of workshops that I took back in 2006, but taking the whole weekend and getting to know her a bit at the show/afterparty, combined with being at a level where I really *get* some of the higher level things she has to offer... It was both wonderful and completely overwhelming at the same time. I got a little teary eyed more than once, and I know I'm not the only one.

I've never had a workshop instructor so compassionate before. When we were all getting fried during the last hour of the weekend full of workshops, she stopped to say how she realized how long and hard we'd been working, and how she knew that we could dig deep and find the energy and focus to finish the choreo we were working on. She also made mention of the vendors in the next room, and encouraged us to make sure we supported them by purchasing anything that we had our eye on before they had to pack up everything and go home. It's kind of hard to put into words, but I just really felt like she was emotionally *there* for every single person she came in contact with. I've known a lot of down to earth instructors, but she's really in a class by herself. When she offered individual correction (which I was the very necessary recipient of a couple of times), you came away not feeling embarrassed or put on the spot, but doggone lucky for being able to have one-on-one attention from her. I don't know how she manages to just give and give and give like she does, but we're certainly blessed that she manages to do it somehow.

I could probably go on for pages, but maybe I'll just leave it that I'm her devoted fan/slave for life. I could imagine taking workshops from her many, many times and always learning something new and inspiring from her. I hope she comes back to the Midwest many more times!