More memories from the Atlanta Charisma years…
In addition to his expert level of training and skill in the dance styles of Ballet, Jazz and Tap, Bobby Berkeley was also a National Ballroom Champion! In 1986, I had the distinct honor of accompanying him to New Orleans for the Dance Masters of America’s National Ballroom Convention where together we taught workshops for dance instructors from all over the country which integrated the Fox Trot with Tap, a la Fred & Ginger. This was an experiment for DMA. The number of attendees to our classes along with their positive feedback provided the organization with valuable insight into the diverse dancing abilities of their members. And to top it off, we were selected to perform at the President’s Ball during the final evening of the Convention!
Dance Masters of America is an International Organization of dance educators who have been certified to teach. Always on the “cutting edge” of the newest and best teaching techniques and enormously impacting the art and education of dance since 1884, DMA offers membership in more than thirty chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
Mr. Berkeley and Miss Starr were pleased and proud to add this gig to their resume, indeed!
With our expenses being paid by DMA during the convention, Bobby and Ellen and Denis and I decided to splurge and arrive a day earlier so that we could enjoy the sights and sounds of the French Quarter.
That’s what I’m talkin’ about!
With our noses for dance, we actually sniffed out the one and only club on Bourbon Street that was offering a show featuring some authentic high stepping in the form of le Can-Can. Always planning for the next dance season, we made a mental note that a little French Frivolity would be perfect for the Broadway Babies!
Beginning the next morning and for the next 2 days we commenced the grueling yet glorious routine of teaching, rehearsing and performing. For in our industry, to be recognized as a Master, is about as lofty as it gets and we were there to give it our all!
From the official program…
* * *
The Workshops…
The routine that Bobby and I selected to share with our students was a piece we had prepared by deciphering a Fred & Ginger classic, “Pick Yourself Up” from the movie, Swing Time. (There will be more about our work on this routine in a future post.)
Ready for class…brought my legs along for this one!
Unlike the other workshops offered, our routine required that participants attend all four of our sessions in order to grasp the intricacies of this historical piece. Not only was excellent ballroom technique a plus for this class, but the tap steps and rhythms involved were extremely advanced and those with tap training quickly stood out.
We brought out our “lucky greens” for this one!
Bobby’s Signature Color!
A Leprechaun joke from Ellen, no doubt!
While Bobby and I were hard at work in the Exhibition Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency, Denis and Ellen took in some of the sights of New Orleans where Denis found some scenes that would appear in future paintings…
Later that evening, we all attended the “Mardi Gras Ball”…
We all just picked a costume from our overflowing costume wardrobes.
Except for Denis, he went over the top for this one!!
(Just kidding, that’s not Denis!)
That guy looks like he’s feeling just a little ridiculous, ya think?
I’d like to see her try to fouette right about now!
The Beau & Belle of the Ball!
If there is an occasion to wear sequins, count Mr. Berkeley in!!
Forever, our Leading Lady!
With her Forever Movie Star Ankle!
So, we partied New Orleans Style that night, but the next day Bobby and I were ready and raring to go for our 11 am class! At 5 pm our teaching sessions were a wrap. For the next few hours we cloistered ourselves in a rehearsal studio. That night would be one of our most prestigious performing opportunities ever! To dance for the other Masters!
The President’s Ball
The Grande Finale of each DMA National Convention is the President’s Ball where a select few of the participating Masters perform a piece from their repertoire. For our performance, we chose a ballroom routine to “Around The World In 10 Different Dance Rhythms.”
There are 10 different ballroom dance rhythms that are expressed in the internationally recognized ballroom dance syllabi. They are:
~ International Standard Rhythms ~
Waltz
Tango
Viennese
Fox Trot
Quickstep
~ International Latin Rhythms ~
Samba
Cha Cha Cha
Rumba
Paso Doble
Jive
Our six-minute routine demonstrated a medley of dance passages in each of the 10 different rhythms flowing from one to the next. When I watch Dancing With The Stars, I can relate to the amateurs as they learn a different rhythm from week to week. Each one is so totally different and the melding of all of these precisely different dance movements into one routine was one of the greatest dance challenges in my career. Thanks to Bobby Berkeley’s amazing gift of teaching and his generous teaching style, I, too, felt like a champion in those moments.
Okay, The Dress!….
By far, this was absolutely my favorite, favorite, (did I mention favorite?) costume of all time. The fact that it was designed and handmade by my mother only adds to the specialness of this ballroom gown. For the fabrics and accoutrement, we made a special trip to NYC and her favorite fabric shops in the garment district on and off 7th Avenue. The core of the dress was made from rainbow colored chiffon embossed with a silver chevron design and lined with layers and layers of fuschia chiffon and tulle. Fishing line was encased into one of the layers to affect the floating hemline. The nude netting on the bodice was all the haute in ballroom gowns in the 1980′s and was considered cheeky in a classy way. A far cry from the gowns we see on DWTS these days!! Dozens of Swarovski crystals were hand sewn on the bodice giving it just the right amount of sparkle!
A matching ponytail adornment!
The Whirliest & Twirliest!
As pretty in the back as it was in the front.
Freshen!
A few moments alone for meditation and visualization before the performance.
We’re up next!
(When God created the Catsuit, he used Bobby as his Model!)
Oh, please let me get through the Samba! (The most challenging rhythm for me…)
The final dance passage…
* Applause * Applause * Applause *
Receiving our Masters Recognition later that evening.
(Movie Star Ankle and all.)
I have revisited the French Quarter several times since the summer of 1986. Each time I return, I remember with delight the night that Bobby and I tripped the light fantastic on that stage in New Orleans…
Au revoir Y’all,
Starr
We had to park a few miles outside of the entrance to the campsite and hike in.
Thank goodness Denis brought that canteen of fresh water. Many attendees at the 1987 gathering came down with dysentery from contaminated streams. Bottled water was not readily available yet!
Almost there. Just over the bridge the gathering was in full force.
