“Mom! You’re robbing the cradle!”
Such were the comments from my children when my husband choreographed the opening number to “Fine Romance” for the Ridgefield Chorale a few years ago (note the hair?). I think it was around 2012 when I was paired with Morton Shendler Jensen, Owner of Fred Astraire Dance Studios in Ridgefield, CT.
Once a dancer, always a dancer. When I think about it, as a modern dancer, I always preferred telling a story thru dance. While in college at the North Carolina School for the Arts, I danced in Job Saunder’s “Summernight” which told the story of various small town residents; and later danced in Valerie Bettis’ classic “No Exit” which performed at Jacobs Pillow just prior to my coming to New York. Today, illustrating thru dance “Fine Romance,” being sung by the 75-member Ridgefield Chorale, felt like coming home. Thank you to Artistic Director and friend, Daniella Sikora, for inviting us to share in such a special evening as both narrator and dancer.
Although I can’t and won’t compete against the young dancers on Broadway these days, it’s thrilling and gratifying to still be considered a part of the dancer elite in New York and thereby get sent in by my “new” agent to “swing” dance with my husband for the product, FluZone. Called back, put on hold until the very last minute and then . . . released. Ahhhh man. Really? Such is the life of the actor/dancer. Quite glamorous, no?
No.
“Give me somebody to dance to dance for; give me somebody to show; all I ever needed was the music and the mirror and chance to dance . . . for you.”
