"You may say that I'm a dreamer..."

It was this time last year I was preparing to embark on a research project with The Arya Dance Project and The Danza Moderna de Cuba Dance Co. in La Habana, Cuba. My research was going to be on the impact of technology and hip-hop culture on the "Revolution." Shortly after arriving I realized how difficult it was going to be to get Cuban nationals to speak against, or for, the government to an American- and ON camera. But like most times, the universe always seems to lead me to the true purpose of my creativity and work.

My assistant, and former student Jessica, who is like a daughter to me was with me on this trip to Cuba. A few years earlier I had taken her on her first trip to New York. Being a dedicated Beatles fan she wanted to visit "Strawberry Fields" in Central Park, which we did. She was so moved and compelled by the experience and especially the "Imagine" plaque dedicated to John Lennon. She took it all in as a quiet reflection. She then saw a picture of a statue of John Lennon sitting on bench and ran around the park looking for it. When she stopped to ask someone where she could find it he responded, "That statue isn't in this park. It's in La Havana, Cuba." She dropped her head and walked away finding her way back to me. After telling me what happened she said, "It's in Cuba. When the heck am I ever going to get the chance to go there?!" I hugged her and we left the park.

Fast forward to the night we arrived after a very long travel day to Cuba. Our driver was taking us to the house we would be staying in and talking to us about the area. As we passed a grassy area one of the other artists asked, "What's that?" He responded, "Oh that? That's John Lennon Park." Jessica looked at me and we couldn't believe it- it was less then a block from where we would be staying the next 15 days.

The next morning we walked over to the park and there was John Lennon, sitting on his bench as if he had been waiting for her, just as she had seen in the picture. Beyond words and alot of emotion she sat next to him. At the base of the statue was an inscription in spanish, "You may think that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

If anyone would've told us standing in "Strawberry Fields" a few years earlier we would be invited to Cuba as American Artists neither of us would've believed it, it was nearly impossible. Then, to be staying less then a block away from the Park named after John Lennon, with the statue?! Why is this more than just coincidence? Because Jessica had the greatest epiphany. While sitting on the bench she said if she ever doubted that ANYTHING is possible, in that moment any doubt she had experienced in her life disappeared. The only thing she could see was possibility, love...and John Lennon. Each morning on our way to our workshops we passed John and waved and smiled...and dreamed.

As an artist and an educator there is nothing more rewarding then to experience such incredible life changing moments. That is the gift of creativity, "Art creates hope, and with hope anything is possible," all you have to have is a dream...and "create" it into reality.

"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope some day you will join us and the world will live as one."- John Lennon