Dear Rhythm & Motion Community,
Since the death of Consuelo at the end of May, I have been reading - and re-reading - your letters of condolence. They have hit home in so many ways, of course, but two aspects stand out. The first is kindness. I can thank you for your empathy and your compassion, but I can only stand in awe of your heartfelt kindness. The second is authenticity. Whether dancing with us has helped you get through a difficult time, brought you lasting friendships, or simply provided a safe space for caring for yourselves and others, your stories of how Rhythm & Motion has made a difference in your lives have been simply wonderful to hear. So thank you.
Now for those of you who don’t know me, I’m Thor Anderson, husband of Consuelo and father of our two daughters, Madeleine and Thea. Soon after we married in 1987, Rhythm & Motion celebrated its tenth anniversary. (I think the celebratory slogan was “Ten Years and Still Kicking!”) Since those relatively early days, I have been Consuelo’s collaborator on all things R&M. We built out the Rhythm & Motion Dance Center on Mission Street in the 1990’s, and I was her second pair of eyes in navigating the complexities of running a small business. I was also teaching anthropology as an adjunct professor at local universities, occasionally taking along the family for fieldwork in Mexico and Spain. It was in fact the festive, rousing circle dances in Basque Country - with people of all ages joyfully taking part - that reinforced Consuelo’s conviction that dance should be for everyone, and that dance should be intimately intertwined with community.
As we move forward, Rhythm & Motion will continue as a family-owned business, and I will be assuming ownership. I will continue working as an advisor to our wonderful Director, Dudley Flores, to further Consuelo’s dream: bringing together people from all walks of life through music, movement, and dance. As so many of you have told me, there is an ineffable spirit in this mix, hard to name, but essential to what’s happening in and around the studios. It has something to do with kindness, and with authenticity, and also with the almost inevitable joy that comes with dancing together. These qualities were part of what Consuelo brought into focus, and they have been part of our company DNA ever since.
And now, I have some special news to report: Consuelo and I have a newborn grandchild. Axel Anders Ellison was born July 30th, a strapping, lovely boy of eight and a half pounds. Madeleine and her partner Bryan are in the midst of the bliss and baby hubbub that so enliven the first days of parenthood. Axel is extremely busy being a baby, of course, but since the ripe age of seven days he has been attempting to roll across the mat. Madeleine has pointed out that he finds special delight in music and movement. Small wonders!
It is hard to fathom the twists and turns of our lives: getting through it; the ecstasy of birth; the heartbreak of a loved one’s departure. Thankfully, our community has stayed strong throughout, thanks to the unparalleled leadership of Dudley Flores, Maggie Connard’s thoughtful office support, our incredible teachers, our magnificent partners, and our loyal friends. Just as there will be challenges of all kinds in our shared future, we know too that we have something special here: a bit mysterious, in some ways super-obvious (like, uh, this is fun!), sometimes a bit difficult, sometimes really hard, but always life-affirming, always all-inclusive, and always from the heart.
There will be a memorial for Consuelo in the near future, to which you are all invited. If you would like to be kept apprised of our plans for this celebration of Consuelo’s life, you may do so by signing up below.
Sending you my very best wishes,
Thor