(As printed in the Fall 2006 Issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine)

     Editor’s Note: It is with heartfelt sympathy and deep regret that we say goodbye to a friend, sister and dancer - - I say an icon in our community - a lady of ladies, that I truly wish you could have all had the great pleasure of knowing.  It takes only to glance at her photographs to see the wonderful person - the light of lights, the woman we knew as Shoshanna Rose.

     Linda Moore MacCoy has gifted us with this look into Shoshanna’s life.  Shoshanna also, in the last few days of her death sent via her friends and family a very special message - included here for you.

     Don’t be sad, she would not want that, but rather that we celebrate not only her life, and the light she shared with us, but our own lives as well - how precious it is and how blessed we are.

     In peace and friendships everlasting. . . Zaina Hart.

The Last Mortal  Dance for Shoshanna Rose

By: Linda Moore MacCoy

     A rose is a rose is a rose, our Shoshanna Rose.   We met her as Susan Bitter, and later as Susan Bachman. In an email with Alan Bachman (Desert Wind and ex-husband) he said "I remember telling her about the name Shoshanna and it being the Hebrew name for Susan, and it meaning rose or lilly.  It comes from the name of the town Shoshan in Persia".   And so, she became Shoshanna Rose.  Her song "Erev Shel Shoshanim from the album Shekina, Hebrew Goddess by Desert Wind.

     From the time she was 3 years old, Shoshanna was a dancer.  She first took ballet, then  modern dance to include The Swing and The Charleston.    Shoshanna went on to study the ethnic dances of Europe to include German, Russian, Romanian, East Indian, Flamenco, Egyptian and many others.  While attending BYU Shoshanna was chosen to represent the school in a European tour, dancing for notables such as the Queen, Princess Grace, The Dali Lama,  and others.  Her Dance Group was telecast dancing to over 5 million people in Holland. 

     She and Karla (Carla Johnson) got together, and formed "Dancers of the Ancient World" where they performed Bellydance, Russian, Rumanian, Greek, Scandanavian, German, Flamenco, and other forms of ethnic dance.  Monte Python (python snake) started appearing with Shoshanna on stage.  Audiences were always wowed by Shoshanna's beautiful dance and with the added presence of Monte, brought down the house. 

     While living in Portland Shoshanna danced as one of our star performers.    She was very accomplished in Flamenco and performed often with roses in her hair as she executed her high kick and turn that to me has been her signature move. 

     Some time in the 90's in seeking a room to rent she met Stephen Miller who became first her room mate, and later husband.  Within a year of marrying, she and Stephen moved to Medford  where they remained until she died on July 25, 2006. 

     Shoshanna's energy shifted with the millenium. Her Dance became a vehicle to express spirit, care for Mother Earth, and good will to the World.  The year 2000 she connected with the "Dancers of Universal Peace" and applied to to be included in a pilgrimage into India to dance from temple to temple to bring the message of peace for the world.  Several thousand people applied. Shoshanna was amongst those chosen.  They were due to leave in October following  9-11 making safety an issue to ponder in prayer. They placed themselves in the hands of Sprit and made the journey.  Shoshanna was asked to dance the White Tara, the Tara of Peace.  She danced the White Tara, and became the White Tara. (reference: passage she quoted to Jayna days before her death.)

     When Shoshanna entered a room, her goodness and beauty entered with her.  Women just having met her would report themselves touched and inspired.  Shoshanna had an aura of white light that emanated around her.   

Shoshanna practiced Christianity while embracing spiritual aspects of the American Indian, of the Mormons, of the Indian Budda, of ancient Egypt, of the Greeks and the Hebrews.   She loved the rituals and ministered story in dance and in song.  She lived as a Goddess, a Priestess, a Minister, a teacher, a friend to all she met and all she touched.  She spent the last 5 years immersed in her studies sharing as she learned.  She was a master herbalist.  And she danced and she danced.

     The last three years found Shoshanna in terrible pain.  Yet not once did she show anger or bitterness.  She would speak to Spirit asking for mercy and relief.  Knowing she was terminal, she met each day as a day for joy and for loving those around her.  She saw beauty in the smallest things.   She gave many words of wisdom and promised she would watch over us and keep us safe as she looked down upon us. 

      Jayna Geiber (minister/People of the Heart) and I went to Medford to help Shoshanna and Heidi (daughter) plan. Ever the master choreographer Shoshanna carefully planned each detail of her service in Portland.  She said " I want to be remembered as a dancer, and I want lots of dancing at my funeral."

     Rev. Jayna Gieber tells me she attended the dances of Universal Peace in Portland, Oregon in 2000. When Shoshanna Rose walked into the room to lead us that night, everything lit up with a warm glow.  She led us in a sensual dance based on a Rumi poem about the Sun, the Moon and red wine.  I will never forget how it felt to be in the presence of the Goddess who Shoshanna truly embodied when she danced. We became fast friends and spiritual sisters from that day forward. I've learned so much about the Divine Feminine over the years from Shoshanna Rose; about the beauty and elegance of the human body; about forgiveness; and living in the present moment. It was an honor and a privilege to help officiate her memorial. I felt Shoshanna there with us as we shared, danced and cried. She is with us still, dancing amongst the stars now."   I, echo those thoughts.

     Shoshanna was in part responsible for the annual event we call the "Goddess Festival".  It is one of many things she left us in which to enrich our lives.  She asked that any donations be sent to People of the Heart for anyone inclined to support world peace efforts.  www.peopleoftheheart.com

     Shoshanna was a sister, a friend, a confidant, a dancer, a mother, a grandmother, a wife, a spiritual guide, and most of all most beloved.  There were three services held in her honor.  Medford and Beaverton, Oregon and Provo, Utah.    The rooms were full to overflowing.  All who attended had the same things to say; that Shoshanna had touched them in a profound way and left them better people than they had been before meeting her.  Her last messages were for us to love each other and stop the fighting. To dance and sing and BREATHE.   She was exceptionally beautiful in body and spririt and an incredible human being.

     As she was preparing to embrace the heavens, she once woke briefly and told Stephen how free she was; dancing in the heavens, amongst the stars, and with the Angels.  She did exactly what she said she would do.  She danced until her last breath and beyond.  She is dancing still.

Shoshanna Rose’s Special Message

"As I let go and prepare to leave this world,

I ask all of us ~

To tone down the warring energies,

the raging, the unimaginable threats to our world.  And breathe.

Together, with Creator's help,

we can find ways to mend the despair.

So let us at this very moment,

this nanosecond in time,

resolve in our hearts and minds

to herald forth the quality of joy

from the depths of our being

and send it out to all we can see and touch,

all that is both seen and unseen. 

Let us celebrate our spiritual freedom and joy!"

For Information about the DVD Set Shoshanna directred bout her own life and dance, contact:  Linda_moore_maccoy@hotmail.com