Here at Starr-Style, we have some very special 25th Anniversaries coming up this year! 
Later this month, June 29th, marks 25 years since the Atlanta Charisma Berkeley’s Broadway Babies tripped the light fantastic at Center Stage in midtown Atlanta in their musical/variety extravaganza, Jumpin’ Georgia Jive of 1985! Throughout the next few weeks, I will be sharing photos and memories from those very creative and special years, 1985, 1986, & 1987, when Bobby Berkeley and I co-owned and directed the performing arts center, Atlanta Charisma, “Home of Berkeley’s Broadway Babies.”
Starr & Bobby (1985)
I met Bobby and his Darling, Ellen, one spring day in 1976 on Long Island when he and I were auditioning for a production of Cabaret at Lindenhurst’s Studio Theatre. As we climbed the steep staircase to the rehearsal hall with me two steps ahead of him and wearing my fashionable, cut velvet mini coat, he remarked, “I see you brought your legs along.” We both landed dance roles in the show and that was the beginning of a dance partnership that lasted until Bobby’s passing in 1994 and a friendship with Ellen which still flourishes today.
The Cabaret Dancers (1976)
Bobby (down in front) & Starr in “Pink” (I was a Kit Kat Klub Performer named “Texas”!)
Years later in the 1980′s, destiny found us all living and dancing in the fastest growing city in the south, Atlanta, Georgia. When the time was right, Bobby and I pursued our dream of opening a dance studio together. In late 1984, we found a lovely studio that was available to rent in beautiful Stone Mountain. We set up shop and by early 1985 we began our adventure that would last for three glamorous years!
Bobby and I had many years of dance teaching experience under our belts in the subjects of Ballet, Jazz, Ballroom and our all time favorite, Tap! We had studied with top notch instructors all of our lives and had taught at premiere dance studios on Long Island. We had performed in many collegiate, summer stock, amateur and professional productions in New York and Georgia. We were ready to share our knowledge of and our passion for the art of dancing and performing with the next generation of Atlanta dancers. We gathered a small staff of excellent instructors and associates and before long our students and our performing company, “Berkeley’s Broadway Babies” were winning dance competitions and landing gigs all around Atlanta.
Berkeley’s Broadway Babies Ensemble (1985)
Starr, Ellen & Bobby (center)
A few performance highlights from 1985…
*** Uptown Celebration – Gwinnett Place Mall’s 1st Anniversary ***
(Industrial)
“Hooked on the Red, White & Blue”
Patriotic Dance Routine
Starr & Bobby
Jazzing it up in “Body Rock”
*** Marietta Arts & Antiques Festival ***
(Industrial)
“Love Is Good For Anything That Ails You!”
On the Marietta Square Stage
Starr, Bobby & and our Darling Dancing Partner, Donna
Donna’s Spectacular Piece
“Le Jazz Hot”
Donna, Bobby & Starr are front & center
*** Fantastic Fourth Celebration – Stone Mountain Park ***
(Industrial)
*** Atlanta Swings Again at the Marriott Marquis ***
(Industrial)
Bobby and I had the distinct honor of dancing a trio with tap legend, Arthur Duncan, at this show. Dionne Warwick was the headliner.
*** Yellow Daisy Festival – Stone Mountain Park ***
(Industrial)
*** “Berkeley’s Broadway Babies At The Cotton Club” ***
WPBA/Channel 30
(Television)
*** Exercise & Health with Jean Shapiro – 2 episodes ***
Prime Cable
(Television)
*** “Big Time” ***
A Stage Directions, Inc. Production
(Theatre)
And last, but not least, our 1st Annual Recital…
Our all dancing, all singing and all acting stage show transported the audience back to the days of the Cotton Club in Harlem, NY during the 1920′s, 30′s & 40′s. Vintage music, gorgeous costumes and a pro/am cast of performers made for an exciting evening for parents and patrons.
The Elementary Company
performed
“Zoot Suit For My Sunday Gal”
The Junior Company
performed
“The Mooche”
The Senior Company
performed
“Minnie the Moocher”
Starr & Donna
The Chair Dance
“Pineapple Rag”
Bobby & Starr
“The Cotton Club Stomp”
PUBLICITY SHOTS
1985
The Ingenue, The Leading Lady, The Juvenile
Ellen, Bobby, Starr
“Movie Star Ankles”
Mr. Berkeley
Miss Starr
Oh…
Broadway Baby,
Learning how to sing and dance,
Waiting for that one big chance
To be in a show!
~ Stephen Sondheim ~
Thankful for the memories,
Starr
Tags: Atlanta Charisma, Berkeley's Broadway Babies, Bobby Berkeley, Broadway Baby, Center Stage, Cotton Club, Gwinnett Place Mall, Marriott Marquis, Minnie The Moocher, Stone Mountain Park, Tap, The Chair Dance, The Cotton Club Stomp, The Mooche, WPBA/Channel 30, Zoot Suit For My Sunday Gal
June 4, 2010 at 10:24 pm |
Daeyl saw it first and told me I wouldn’t believe the feelings that would overcome me when I saw the pictures and read the edit and she was right!!! What a great job you did, Starr, bringing us all back to this time. My heart is trembling. You must put this link on Facebook – let ‘em know what REAL showbiz was all about! Who has costumes like that????
June 6, 2010 at 1:24 pm |
Wa Ta Ta….What a wonderful time you all had…The costumes were fabulous..and Starr you all looked so glamourous…and of course, you still do…To have lived “one of your many dreams” , how great is that……Life is grand…xo
January 15, 2011 at 5:06 am |
THANK YOU ! Starr, you are, and always be a STARR in my book.You are truly a gifted person, and I will never forget you. I will always remember the time when Bobby told me about one of your beautiful performances together, when you were dancing to George Michaels never gonna dance again.It was really a time to remember,I would give anything just to see one of the video performances that you guys put together, maybe even @ center stage,where I worked the spotlight for you.Anything you might have would be appreciated. Only a few of us know in this world,my brother could dance on air! Oh, I would like to know how Jason Kalish is doing, and I could tell you a story about the time he was on T.V. When he was asked how he learned to dance so well, and he said, my Teacher was Bobby Berkeley. Love, Stephen Smith
May 11, 2011 at 5:12 am |
I danced with Berkley’s Broadway Babies in the 80′s when they were in Stone Mountain. Any pics from my era?
September 16, 2011 at 2:11 pm |
Hello Lee, Starr here. I can’t place your name, but remind about some of the routines you danced in. I have lots of photos from the Stone Mountain days, and I would be pleased to share them with you!
June 11, 2011 at 12:21 am |
Hello Starr……I just found this,and was able to show my daughter. She did not belive that her Auntie and I were Stars….lol or so we thought. I hope there are video of us some where,and that we can show our children. We were in a very special place. I cant belive the two of you were so committed to our success. Thank you…….from a former BROADWAY BABY!!!!!!!!