At age twenty-one, I learned that if you asked boldly, followed through enthusiastically, and didn’t blink, you could live wildly above your means — at least for seven days at sea. After a year of performing across Europe with a dance company, it was time to go home. The three of us were broke, optimistic,
A First-Class Hustle Read More »
What happened felt perfectly natural, perfectly safe — and just a little bit marvelous. It began, as many fine adventures do, in the bar of the Barcelona Ritz. The bar was dressed in white marble and fancily framed mirrors. Across from us sat three Spanish gentlemen of a certain age, courteous, impeccably dressed, with an
A Day Borrowed from Another World Read More »
No one expects a miracle in the middle of afternoon tea, but I was lucky enough to witness one. It all began with the tinkling of a piano drifting through the room. Under my feet, plush oriental carpets cushioned every step, while above me, the hotel’s classic golden domes kept careful watch. We sat on
How Music Stopped Time in Istanbul Read More »
On a quiet, sunshiny afternoon, while picking raspberries on the outskirts of Jocotepec, I heard a lion roar! Terrified, I grabbed hold of my friend. Her face was ghostly white — she had heard it too. Then it came again. It felt closer this time. We clung to each other, momentarily frozen. Then, dropping our
A Lion in a Raspberry Patch Read More »
The hot and sticky air floated through the dingy windows of the rickety bus as it trundled down the main road towards Montevideo, Uruguay. Onboard were about 40 performers – swimmers, dancers and divers, all part of a second-rate water ballet show that had just flopped after an unsuccessful run at Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal
Hijinks on a Wayward Bus Read More »
It was my very first time to be on television as a June Taylor Dancer, working on the Jackie Gleason Show. I was shaking in my shoes as I stood in the wings and tried to remember which foot to start with. The butterflies in my stomach weren’t fluttering anymore … they were beating their
Jackie Gleason…How Sweet He Was! Read More »
When I checked in to the small hotel, I was handed a note explaining that rehearsals were to begin at 10am the following day, and Pearl Bailey would be the celebrity for this month. My heart began to thump with excitement. I had admired Pearl Bailey since I was a kid. I’d watched her on
A Bittersweet Ovation Read More »
The gusty wind blew the hat off my head onto Wabash Avenue. I stared at it as it flew up in the air, then landed smack in the middle of the oncoming traffic. I stood helpless for a moment as the cars rolled over and over it. Damn! I liked that hat! Now I had
A Hotel Room, Spiked lemonade, and Harry Belafonte Read More »
A lively new look towards audience participation for a great cause, come and enjoy!
“Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance” Read More »
