|
|
|
Cancer is an unfortunately familiar word to almost everyone in our country because of the diagnosis of a family member, friend or loved one. The same is true of the Larkin family. Michele Larkin Wagner was diagnosed with breast cancer in December, 2008. Because Michele has touched so many lives, this diagnosis has also touched many people. One of those people is Michele's friend, Tyce Diorio. Tyce choreographed a tribute to Michele, and all the other women around the country and around the world, who are fighting this disease. The piece was set to the song "This Woman's Work" and appeared on an episode of So You Think You Can Dance® on July 22, 2009.
You can follow this link to recent (08/19/09) local newspaper
coverage: HTTP://oakdalelakeelmoreview.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&subsectionID=13&articleID=5370
Below is also an interview conducted with Michele after that July 22nd performance:
Meet Michele Larkin The Woman Who Inspired Tyce’s Cancer Dance On SYTYCD at The Insider
See More...'SYTYCD' Top 8: Melissa & Ade's Contemporary Performance/ Cancer Dance @ NOTICE THE MATCHING HEADSCARF, That's not a mistake! "The scarf really killed me because I have a scarf exactly like it!" This exquisitely choreographed dance about breast cancer touched so many people on Wednesday night us included. We're a crying mess when I watch this show, so badly we can't even look at each other!! I shed more tears than I did during Michael Jackson's funeral. I had to know the woman who inspired this art. So we had to do some investigative journalism for an future project on SYTYCD and hunted down Michele Larkin who touched Tyce so much. I found Larkin Dance Studios in St. Paul, Minnesota where Michelle Larkin teaches the contestants of tomorrow, along with her sister Molly. Michelle called me on her cell from Chicago at a Jazz Conference and I asked her what the impact of the dance was on her because it certainly had an impact on us.
A: Have you spoken to Tyce yet and thanked him? M: We've talked through text but we keep missing each other. I thanked him and it was his birthday. I told him it was a wonderful tribute, because you know I was his inspiration but it was a message that needs to be out there for everyone.
A: How did you feel when you saw Tyce dedicate that piece to you? M: Well, it was very overwhelming I was very touched by it. I still can't even talk about it I'm so overwhelmed!
A: Did you know he was going to do that? M: Yes, he had mentioned it so I made sure my nephew taped it because I'm in Chicago.
A: How many times have you watched it online because I've seen it probably six times by now? M: My nephem tivoed it so yeah I've watched it quite a few times. I'm so overwhelmed by all the attention it's gotten.
A: How are you feeling now? M: Well I was diagnosed in December and I'm done with my kemo so I'm feeling good. I still have some test to do to make sure everything's ok.I have to move on. I have to beat this. I feel great, and I'm on the rebound ready to get back to regular life and that was just...so beautiful to look at.
Michele was a blast to talk to, and even went into the fact that she's seen Ade, the male dancer in the piece, grow up from a little boy so it was really touching for him to be a part of the dance. You can find Michelle teaching all around the country, working on new routines here in LA with Tyce, and online. Source:www.laragmag.com 40 laragmag Published 6 hours ago
DISCLAIMER: This posting was submitted by a user of the site not from The Insider editorial staff. All users have acknowledged and agreed that the submission of their story and its contents is in compliance with our Terms of Use.
To learn more about breast cancer; including statistics, prevention, and how you can help in the effort to find a cure, please visit the following links: http://www.cancer.org
|
|
