Starr Style

More memories from the Atlanta Charisma days…

“Nice teacher, teach me something.

I’m as awkward as a camel, that’s not the worst,

My two feet haven’t met yet, But I’ll be teacher’s pet yet,

‘Cause I’m gonna learn to dance or burst.”

The summer of 1986 was an exciting time on the dance floor at Atlanta Charisma.  Bobby and I were working on another very special dance that we would be performing at the Dance Masters of America’s President’s Ball!  To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, 1936 RKO classic movie musical, “Swing Time,” we were replicating their opening number from the movie, “Pick Yourself Up.”

The snappy melody with its bright tempo written by Jerome Kern was perfect for this intricate routine which was choreographed by Fred Astaire with the assistance of Hermes Pan and combined Tap Percussion with Fox Trot, Quickstep and Swing Dance positions and footwork.   The uplifting lyrics by Dorothy Fields have stood the test of time and still ring true with their message of “nothing’s impossible.”  We were getting better at lifting music tracks off of video tapes and we ended up with a charming recording of the tune on cassette tape that captured all of the vintage tinniness of the era.

“Nothing’s impossible I have found,

For when my chin is on the ground,

I pick myself up, Dust myself off, Start All over again.

Don’t lose your confidence if you slip,

Be grateful for a pleasant trip,

And pick yourself up, Dust yourself off, Start all over again.”

And Bobby and I had to constantly remind ourselves of that as we worked at fever pitch for the entire month of July deciphering every foot fall, gesture and nuance of this dance treasure.

The big body movements were fairly easy to grasp.  Once we could execute them well in the mirror image, we had to then reverse them so that I was actually dancing Ginger’s part and Bobby that of Fred’s.  We decided early on in the project that we would both learn the Lady’s and the Gentleman’s part because we would be teaching this routine at the Dance Masters of America’s National Convention in August.

After long days at the studio, we would continue our work at our homes.  We each had a VHS copy of the movie and together with headphones and the slow motion button, we would scrutinize every little movement and sound of each step until we could break it down into its tiniest elements.  We’d compare notes the next day and this is how we fit all of the tap sounds into the ballroom dance moves.  Tedious yes, but exhilarating at the same time!

“Work like a soul inspired, Till the battle of the day is won.

You may be sick and tired, But you’ll be a man, my son!

Will you remember the famous men, Who had to fall to rise again?

So take a deep breath, Pick yourself up, Dust yourself off, Start all over again.”

With deciphering completed and the routine actually starting to look and sound like a dance, we then had to take on the monumental task of the dance notation!  Our breakdown and explanation of each and every move would be published in the Teachers’ Work Notes Edition of DMA’s National Convention Syllabus.  Not a problem for Mr. Berkeley and Miss Starr, for we were fluent in Dance Terminology.  It’s the dancer’s language and how we as dancers communicate.   It was passed down to us by Masters and we took great pride in passing it along to our students.

“Pick Yourself Up” Dance Notation

“Swing Time” was filmed in black & white.  We guessed the color of Ginger’s dress to be navy blue.  (I think we learned years later, perhaps when the movie was colorized, that it actually was a garnet red.)  My mom got to work building a wonderful dress that mimicked Ginger’s while designed in fit and flair uniquely for me.  We knew that Fred wore a Morning Suit, but we purposely chose a navy tux for Bobby so that we would look more matched on stage.  We wore character shoes rather than tap shoes because part of the novelty of this routine is that we would be syncing precisely with the tap sounds on the recording.  Neither of us opted to change our hairstyles to reflect a more 30′s look, because frankly, Bobby loved his mane of blonde hair and I adored dancing with my trademark blonde ponytail swinging in time with the music!

We practiced “Pick Yourself Up” daily, summoning our inner Fred & Ginger each time we took to the dance floor.  The routine got better and better and we were so ready for its debut performance on the evening of the DMA’s President’s Ball.  First for us that evening was our Ballroom Exhibition routine, “Around The World In 10 Different Dance Rhythms.”

Next, a meticulous change into our ”Pick Yourself Up” costumes and we were off stage right ready and raring to make our entrance with those glorious tour jetes dans le couple.

Bobby gets his finishing touches from his Darling Ellen.

And we’re on!

*Applause*  *Applause*  *Applause*

For the next year, we got a lot of mileage out of this routine performing it in and around metro Atlanta many times, most notably at the “Atlanta Star Ball” at the Colony Square Hotel and at “Dance The Night Away”at Studebaker’s, Atlanta to benefit the Alliance Theatre Company/Atlanta Children’s Theatre.

“Tour Jetes dans le Couple”

Nothing’s impossible,

Starr