Dear NECC Board,

A year and a half ago the 10:00 A.M. M/W/F movement class began helping me restore my life. For over two years I had been disabled by an autoimmune disease doctors couldn’t put a name to. My formerly active life filled with work, family, pilates, and yoga was suddenly curtailed by stiffness, pain, and exhaustion. I felt like the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz as my body slowly shut down on me. We moved cross country to settle in Portland, and I found a naturopath who started me on the path of healing, and then I found NECC.

When I first joined the community center, I was warmly greeted by Lynn and her lovely dancing ladies. My body wouldn’t do all the moves at the beginning; nonetheless, I’d go home and crawl into bed for several hours from the exertion of my neophyte efforts. Slowly, my body began to wake up, and my muscles regained some of their strength. My brain incorporated the ballet moves and routines Lynn thoughtfully choreographs for us, and my insides felt more vital than they had in many months.

I hate to miss a day of dance, because in addition to the stretching, the grace of movement, and the camaraderie, Lynn always tells us we’re beautiful, and who wouldn’t love that?

Thank you for your faithfulness in providing excellent teachers in a facility that meets a variety of needs for the members of the community.

(Name withheld by request)