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Steppin’ Out!

January 19, 2011

Here at Starr Style, it’s a big day! For the first time in many months, I’m putting on my tap shoes and getting back on to the dance floor.

A labral tear in my left hip seized my dance card for most of 2010. Now, after successful arthroscopic surgery, I am back and ready to make some big noise!

Many thanks to my darling Denis for his tender loving care and encouragement during my recovery. To my family and friends for your love, support and funny cards! To my surgeon, Dr. Joseph Wilkes and his team at Piedmont Hospital, Southern Orhopaedic Specialists. And to the gang at NeuroSport Physical Therapy, especially Biana and Matt, for helping me to get my hippy shake back!

I’m heading back to class for the first time today with one of my favorite tap teachers in Atlanta, Sandi Friedman. And tomorrow I will teach my first class of 2011 here in my Take It From The Top studio!

I’m starting a new Blog called Tap 365! It will be a daily, informational post focussed on an aspect of tap dancing. One for each day of the year!

It’s great to be back!

Steppin’ out with my honey
Can’t be bad to feel so good
Never felt quite so sunny
And I keep on knockin’ wood

~ Irving Berlin~

Tappingly yours,

Starr

Tags:Take It From The Top, Tap, tap dance
Posted in Starr Styled, Tap Dancing Style | 2 Comments »

“Pick Yourself Up”

July 7, 2010

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

Tags:1936, Atlanta Charisma, Bobby Berkeley, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Movie Musical, Pick Yourself Up, Swing Time, Tap
Posted in Around Atlanta Style, Show Biz Style, Starr Styled, Tap Dancing Style, Vintage Style | 1 Comment »

Dance Masters of America

June 23, 2010

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

Tags:Ballroom Dancing, Bobby Berkeley, Dance Masters of America, DMA, French Quarter, New Orleans, Tap
Posted in Show Biz Style, Starr Styled, Tap Dancing Style, Travel Style | 3 Comments »

That’s Dancing!

June 11, 2010

More from the Atlanta Charisma days…

In 1985, MGM released a gem of a film that quickly became a must-see for dancers everywhere. It was called, “That’s Dancing!” and it mimicked the tried and true formula of the “That’s Entertainment!” films. With introductions and commentaries by legendary dancers, this montage blended all-time favorite routines with some never before seen movie footage of dancers throughout the 20th century.

At Atlanta Charisma, our entire season of dance leading up to our recital extravaganza, “Slick Georgia Chicks of 1986″ was inspired by “That’s Dancing” and it’s toe tapping theme song of the same name with music by Henry Mancini and words by Grossman/Fitzhugh. It began with the tribal-like rhythm chant of “The Heart, The Beat, That Starts, The Feet,” and then transported the listener/dancer through the many genres of movie musical melodies/dances and then wrapped it all up in one, “perfectly big ending.” It suited us to a T!

Now, how do we get our hands on this music?!! Remember, these were the days before iTunes! And movie soundtracks took forever to be released. With the VCR somehow connected to the Califone and then to a cassette tape recorder, we managed to pull a fairly decent working copy off of the VHS. Good enough to begin work on what would be one of Bobby Berkeley’s biggest and best choreographic efforts and a routine that would set Atlanta Charisma apart from other dance studios/companies because of our inclusion of students of all ages, and, ballroom dancing together with our ballet, jazz and tap stylings.

Add to that, a brand new (for us) 8-piece modular stage set that we purchased from Six Flags when they were revamping their Crystal Pistol stage show, our ever-present, huge and flashing “Berkeley’s Broadway Babies” neon sign, our 20′ tall glittering slit drape, a new wardrobe of gorgeous costumes many of which were handmade by my mom, Joan and, I’m serious, when you came to see this show, it was Vegas, Baby!

It was hot in Atlanta in June of 1986. On the morning of our 2nd annual dance recital we moved back in to the Center Stage only to find that fans at a Susie and the Banshees concert the previous evening had had more fun than a barrel of banshees! Working at whirlwind speed, we managed to clean the place up and have the stage beautifully adorned with all of the various props and glitz by the time the children arrived for dress rehearsal that afternoon. And, the show went on!

Act I revisited the “Cotton Club” with classic pieces from our repertoire…

In the roles of the Juvenile & the Ingenue

our own

Mr. Berkeley & Miss Starr

“Le Jazz Hot”

Starr & Bobby

tuning in

The Duke Ellington Cotton Club Orchestra

Too pooped to pop

after Darling Donna’s Rousing Rendition of

a vintage favorite

The Chair Dance

Act II was all new and featured our beginner students in a tribute to the popular Broadway musical, “Cats.”

Our Cats backdrop of a backyard alley at midnight was designed and painted by Denis.

The Babie Wabies as Kittie Witties!

Act III was a show within a show, opening with our beautiful “That’s Dancing,” followed by a balletic salute to George Gershwin and ending on a very high note with our trademark Tap Drill danced to “Opus One” – a nine minute piece that incorporated every single, single-sound, double-sound & triple-sound element of tap in every which way, plus some!!

BERKELEY’S BROADWAY BABIES

“THAT’S DANCING”

The most glamorous Leading Lady ever!

Ellen

Practicing her Movie Star Ankle before making her entrance as our Mistress of Ceremonies!

Junior Training Line

Junior Company

Senior Training Line

Senior Company

Lovely Miss Laura & Mr. Berkeley

Elementary Company backstage before their entrance!!

“That’s Dancing!”

Mr. Berkeley fluffing tutus before the Gershwin Ballets!

Senior Company

Senior Training Line

Junior Company

Junior Training Line

Miss Starr

Mr. Berkeley

take turns

Leading the Tap Drill to “Opus One”

After our Curtain Call to “Footloose”…

Student Recognition Awards

The partners congratulate each other on a job well done!

Later that evening, Bobby, Ellen, Denis and I left the Center Stage and crossed over West Peachtree Street where we found a table in the piano bar at Joelle’s and sat down for the first time in many, many hours. Bobby was still wearing his “That’s Dancing” costume. For most dance studios, the recital’s Finale means that the past season is in the bag. For Atlanta Charisma, the summer of 1986 saw some of our busiest dancing days ever. Our dance cards were full! And around that table, on that steamy night in Georgia we mapped out our upcoming dancing adventures…

The Heart ~ The Beat ~ That Starts ~ The Feet,

Starr

Tags:Atlanta Charisma, Bobby Berkeley, Cats, Center Stage, Cotton Club, George Gershwin, Tap, That's Dancing
Posted in Around Atlanta Style, Show Biz Style, Starr Styled, Tap Dancing Style | 2 Comments »

The Atlanta Charisma Years

June 2, 2010

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.