RAUL ANTE It is with great sadness we announce that our beloved friend and staff member, Raul Ante, passed away on Sunday. ---A beautiful message written by Manny Viarrial on Facebook--- I've been to many competitions and found all to be such moments whether it be good or bad. What we forget sometimes is how valuable we all are in this community. Mountain Magic is an event that I always look forward to every year. I've seen so much over the years in attendance but the one thing I love is the beauty of our staff. Today is a very sad day. Raul Ante passed away doing what he so loved and that's dancing. Such kindness from this beautiful man. His heart gave out. Tough to see someone leave before us. In life we must always value what we have. For in the instance of a moment we could be gone. We live to the joys of life... I always say. Tears flowed though out the ballroom. Prayers were said. A sense of family came together. They say that the show must go on but for Raul I say my dear friend go to heaven. God is waiting. Thank you for the love you shared with all of us. You will dearly be missed. I cry now but celebrate your life and how you touch us all. Our father who art in heaven hollowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come thy will be done, on earth as it is In heaven,give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever in Jesus name we pray amen. My prayer goes out to you Raul! Please pray my dear friends for his family and friends. You will be missed my brother! Manny A few thoughts I have ... Thank you Manny for sharing your thoughts and expressing what so many of us are feeling. My heart has yet another large crack in it ... I miss my friend. Raul is the reason I dance hustle, the reason that hustle is part of Mountain Magic and why hustle is still alive and well in the Bay Area. His amazing spirit and talent is reflected in all of us that continue to love and cherish this dance as he did. Thank you Raul Ante for all you shared with me ... I will be forever grateful. I am so fortunate to have had you in my life and to have you as my dear friend for so many years. You opened the wonderful world of hustle to me and so many others and guided us with a gentle kindness greater than anyone could imagine. Your spirit lives on in all the lives you touched ... and you definitely touched many. I will surely miss our weekly Wednesday night dinners after the dance and all the crazy conversations we had .. along with all the decades of fun and laughs. What a great ride ... S#$%&! Say hi to Bob, Arte and so many others up there. Until we meet again ... Dance on my friend! ~a poem by author Flavia ... very descriptive of Raul~ Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people stay for a while and move our souls to dance. They awaken us to understanding, leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same. Michelle Kinkaid

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