Story by Sam Ruano
Four months ago, the ravenous wildfire sparked by the Santa Ana winds claimed the homes and cherished landscapes of those who lived there.
The devastating damage caused by the Eaton Fire left a lasting mark on the community. Leaving many of those affected without homes or in critical living conditions. Although not all homes were destroyed, many were left in a critical state if not worse. Now, many months later, individuals and small communities have been able to recuperate and collect themselves after the fire had changed their lives so drastically.
Residents like Steve, fell victim to the devastating fires that tragic night, losing their homes and scarring the communities they lived in.
In most cases, some might yearn for their outlets after having experienced such a shift in their life. Unfortunately most outlets that involve personal possessions or connecting with others might not be possible after such an impactful event.
For dancers like Gwen and Steve, returning to the Leigh Purtill Ballet Company wasn’t just about picking up where they left off. It was a chance to reconnect with something familiar.
The studio became a space where they could move again, but also move emotionally. In a time where so much had been lost, it gave them something to hold on to. A way to feel present in something again, a way of returning to normality.
Even now, the effects of the fire linger. But recovery doesn’t always look like rebuilding walls or replacing things. Sometimes, it’s just being able to show up to a place of belonging. And for this community, the ballet company made it possible to return to that feeling of normality. The Leigh Purtill Ballet Company gave that to people like Gwen and Steve. It became a space where the past was acknowledged, and they were encouraged to continue pursuing what makes them happy.
Recovery sometimes just means having something to come back to. A community that helps you feel a little more like yourself again, even after everything that you have been through.
It is important to keep in mind those who were affected. Stories aren’t being made as frequently as they were when the fires first hit. Community is what binds us all together, and that is shown no better than Leigh Purtill Ballet Company.
This story was created by students in Citrus College’s Multimedia Journalism class, COMM 250, and published in conjunction with the Citrus College Clarion.
