Tree House Village – Dance Adventures

“The journey changes you – it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you… hopefully you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain

Embarking on a Dance Adventure to the Dominican Republic was a practice in faith for me. The option for this journey entered my life, and I turned it down at first. But it persisted & made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I said ‘yes’ excitedly & with little hesitation. Something inside me knew I needed this trip. The path was laid out before me & I just had to follow it. It was meant to be.

I haven’t considered myself an adventurous soul & in the weeks leading up to the trip I did grow anxious. The excitement & lack of hesitation faded and I became worried: about malaria, traveling with people I didn’t know, getting sick from food borne illness, all of the ‘scary’ things I would have to do with the other participants in order to document them as their photographer. This entire trip was outside my comfort zone. And then I reminded myself – I built my business entirely on being outside my comfort zone. It’s worked well for me thus far; maybe I should have a little faith.

I arrived in the Dominican Republic under the cover of darkness, on day four of a trip already in progress. I settled into my hotel room & rested up for the next day when I would meet the other participants. I didn’t know who they were, where they were from, or even how many people I’d be spending the next week with! But I had faith that the trip coordinators, Megan Taylor Morrison & Cat Wood, would have attracted an incredible group of people – and I was right.

Enter Hannah, Kerilynn, Eric, and Melaina. Laughter surrounded them like a warm hug and soon enough it embraced me as well. We traveled together from Santo Domingo to Samana Province, a little peninsula in the north, where the Dominican Tree House Village warmly welcomed us with open arms – and a complimentary welcome drink!

Today I’m sharing photos from my short time in Santo Domingo, as well as images from our first evening at the Tree House Village. Check in next week for pictures from my second day in the DR, where you’ll see some turquoise blue water & lots of activity at the Tree House Village.