Dear Editor,

I do not think there are enough tears on this earth to express our sorrow. I do not think that there are enough words to describe how we feel. But, I will try anyway.

For anybody whoever had contact with Motiance, with its students, with the shows or any of the staff, that person knows it was not just a dance school. For many, it was a home away from home; for others it was just...home. Cees gave us the chance to showcase our talent and for some to even find their future career. However, for everyone who was ever a student at Motiance, he gave us the chance to find a passion. This passion is something we all have in common; something that undeniably gives us a connection whether, we, as Danica says, "are buddy buddy or not, Motiance is something we all have."

What once started way back in 1985 as something to keep children off the streets and give them something to do turned into a family. For many of us, our childhood memories are imbedded in Motiance; we were at Motiance more than we were at home, and we saw our Motiance family more than our "real" family.

I do not think any of us will ever know how hard Cees fought to give us Motiance and to keep it alive. Every time we got knocked down, he made sure we got back up. Whether that was a leaky roof at the old building that ruined yet another floor, torn costumes, or even a hurricane, he made sure we got through it. Cees carried Motiance through over 25 years of success and setbacks, and he did it with love. I wish I could say that this will carry on now that he is gone, but I cannot. But one thing I can promise him, as well as "Keeping the Dream Alive," we will keep the memory of Motiance alive, because in those memories, we carry him on and all that Motiance stands for.

It has been a long fight for Cees - a fight to give us Motiance and a fight with his health. And in many ways, he won that fight, because even though he is no longer with us, he has still found a way to bring us all together and keep us together.

For all the memories, I will be eternally grateful. I am Motiance; we are Motiance, and will forever be Motiance.

Alissa