Discovering what Daring To Go Beyond really means in the strength of Elizabeth Maria Walsh

Art saves lives, and also spirits and souls and teaches us all so much. I wish that each human being had a chance to explore some type of arts. I actually think that the world could simply be better if this was indeed possible and yet, it's the first thing to be taken away every time there needs to be a budget cut from school to school. SAD RIGHT? ...

Meet the story of Elizabeth Maria Walsh, at least my experience with her... A WARRIOR OF THE LIGHT WITHOUT A DOUBT. A young girl who proved that DARING TO GO BEYOND IS MORE THAN A MOTTO, it is a way of life we can all choose. Never playing victim in the path life has granted us. She joked in her harder days "I guess GOD must think I am the strongest woman on the planet" when told that there wasn't any challenge that God allowed us to live that we can not handle. The lovely Elizabeth Maria Walsh passed away yesterday, however HER SPIRIT PERHAPS IS MORE PRESENT THAN EVER. Last night in Bryant Park, NYC a group of friends danced in the park to no music, to no particular rhythm but to the HONOR AND RESPECT of her memory, of her strength and bravery. Elizabeth had been battling cancer for a long time, and yet she stilled donated her time to many events and INSPIRED, EMPOWERED, AND HELPED people move forward.


Her smile shined like summer SUNLIGHT in the Caribbean and her spirit would so often enlighten any space. How many more times could I have let her know what an inspiration she was to me and to so many around her. Sadly is always when we no longer can do this things that we realize we could have done more.

Her family helped her every step of the way. We send our condolences and support to them and even more OUR GRATITUDE. Elizabeth really was a great HUMAN BEING and ARTIST!

I met her when she first came to my non-profit organization, R.Evolución Latina to audition for the Choreographers Festival in 2011. A show that I got to direct with a group of amazing friends who happen to be wonderful choreographers. We told a story of LOVE FOR THE ARTS and humanity and THERE ELIZABETH WAS SHINING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STAGE.


This project built a community, that still to this day remains intact and many of the same people gathered to honor and celebrate her last night. She was a dancer who became an example. She met Vania Masias through the festival and was invited to travel to Peru to both teach and also to perform as a D1 Dance company member. This gave her the opportunity to learn from the amazing Peruvian community of D1 that is gathers individuals to empower and nurture successful artistic growth. Elizabeth was a Peruvian hit making friends and inspiring people. In her return to the states she came back to RL and supported our work in many many ways. We learned that ART HAD A HUGE PURPOSE in this artist. We started to see the growth and outcome of this young woman who had been a part of our process, but the biggest story of strength, power and FAITH had yet to come. Elizabeth was diagnosed with cancer but her attitude was that of a Super Hero. SHE NEVER, NOT ONCE GAVE UP. She lifted her chin, shared that big smile and walked into my office one day with wrist bands that said: !@#%ck Cancer!



She won the battle many times, perhaps too many and in the last 24 hours she went away to dance in heaven while leaving us with one more story. Her long term desire of being in a production of IN THE HEIGHTS was accomplished and she got to PERFORM HER HEART out on the stage. She made that and many more artistic dreams into reality leaving a legacy to admire.  

Today and forever everyone who was blessed to have met Elizabeth will say, 'that young, beautiful girl showed me the meaning of purpose, to live, to love, to enjoy every second of this granted gift we call life".

So wherever you are and what ever you do for respect and for love don't waste a second of your life on earth, souls like Elizabeth will forever thank you for that.

She always used this quote: "Life is precious. Meant to take risks, meant to be honest, and meant to be lived drenched in love. Treasure the moments as they happen. Remember the past, believe in a future, but live in the now." - Elizabeth Maria Walsh


So My friends, Go out there and let your art be made with purpose.
Let your every second be ART!
Amen


Elizabeth Maria Walsh was born and raised in Miami, FL where she graduated cum laude from New World School of the Arts high school concentrating in dance. Knowing she was destined for a life in the arts, she moved to New York City and became enamored with the world of dance, theatre, music, and literature. Shortly after moving, Elizabeth Maria found herself simultaneously performing, teaching dance to young children, and receiving her Bachelors in English Language Arts from Hunter College. However, her life of exploring the arts was soon put on pause when at the young age of 24 she was diagnosed with Stage IV Adrenal Cortical Cancer, a cancer that affects about one in a million. Never one to back down from a challenge, she chose to fight cancer head on and was determined to not only beat this disease, but to become an advocate to help others fighting this battle as well through the one thing she knew best- the arts.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

DANCE FOR US ALL MY DEAR FRIEND
TE QUEREMOS