Dear Santa Cruz Community,
Collette Tabone here. Director of Motion Pacific Dance.
I am currently on maternity leave. I’m writing this message from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, holding my daughter Austen, and wrapping up almost four months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. During Austen’s many treatments and surgeries, I have been away from Santa Cruz — my home — and my home away from home — Motion Pacific. With the immense support of Motion Pacific staff and community, I have been able to take a step back from my role as Director during this time of need.
A silver lining: This time away has allowed me to appreciate my business from an even wider lens. As I look at my daughter and reflect on the unexpected nature of her arrival, as well as how I’ve needed to reimagine her future, I can’t help but think of the parallels between this experience and Motion Pacific. Through it all, one word continues to pop into my head: Resilience. Resilience has meant a lot to me in these past few months, and a lot for Motion Pacific in our 25-year history.
Through three different relocations, through the pandemic, and through an ever-shifting Santa Cruz landscape, Motion Pacific has persisted. The evolution of the business has been multi-faceted and driven by the needs and desires of our community. Providing non-competitive and body-positive classes for youth and adults, supporting a free Dance for Parkinson’s program, presenting Santa Cruz Dance Week, offering opportunities to perform and present work for local and regional artists, producing and hosting Queer events and programming including MAJESTY and BBQueer, continuously looking for opportunities to partner and build and dream with local organizations—creating a home for arts and expression is at the core of our values and mission.
These programs, amongst others, are worth fighting for.
And now, Motion Pacific is in need.
Collette Talbone and her daughter Austen
We have lost our home at 131 Front St., Santa Cruz, and will need to move in 2024. We are looking for new space in a very difficult time, in a very difficult market. We need your support, now.
Despite being in the throes of this transition, Motion Pacific has continuously been there for me and my family, and for the larger community. Throughout this time, our dancers, staff, and supporters have rallied on my behalf.
So, I am asking that you rally for Motion Pacific in this time of giving. We have always been a community-minded AND community-funded organization. Your contributions, no matter the size, carry us forward as we create, reimagine, and build resilience. Make a donation at https://motionpacific.com/donate
We have been nimble, resourceful, and responsive in these past 25 years to provide a space for you — our community — and now we are asking you to employ those same qualities to dig deeper and give anything you can to keep Motion Pacific open and thriving.
I wish each of you well as we enter this holiday season and new year.
— Collette Tabone, Director & Motion Pacific Board of Directors and Staff
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Editor’s note: Motion Pacific (https://motionpacific.com) is part of the 2023 Santa Cruz Gives campaign to raise money for local nonprofits and award $1,000 each for most donors, project of the year and most creative campaign. It is one of five chosen arts organizations and one of the smallest staff and volunteers. There is a $2,000 challenge to match gifts up to $2,000 before the campaign ends Dec. 31. See https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/motionpacific/