It has always been my childhood dream to be on Broadway. I have been so fortunate to attend a performing arts high school and a Conservatory to train as a Musical Theatre performer. An education in the arts is often very memorable: as we learn how to master our craft and apply that precious knowledge to future performances. Amidst all of those arts classes there is definitely one dance class that I will never forget.
My senior year of high school, and that summer afterwards, I took a private tap class. I guess you could call it private, as there was me and one other student 'enrolled'. The teacher and my classmate are individuals I've known my whole life, but never studied with. My instructor was my Great Aunt Judy and my cohort was my other Great Aunt Mary Lynn.
It all started when we finished eating dinner at a family member's birthday party and Mary Lynn nonchalantly mentioned how 'learning how to tap dance was on her bucket list.' Judy was lucky enough to take lessons growing up and offered to teach us a course in tapping. More than overjoyed to dust off her shoes, Judy claimed we were taking class at "Miss Judy's Dancing School."
Christopher and Mary Lynn
Every Saturday morning Mary Lynn would pick me up and at 9am we would meet at Miss Judy's house for our weekly tap lesson. We'd warm up with music by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, or just this random CD that was in the boom box when we dug it out. Judy was getting her kitchen floors re-done soon so we were able to 'flap ball change', 'cramp roll', and 'shuffle' our way across the smooth wood surface, but had to be careful not to 'pull back' into the dishwasher.
Since I had already taken a couple tap classes, this was a wonderful refresher: reminding myself of the foundational technique all tappers need to possess. Mary Lynn, on the other hand was a fresh beginner, but had a great determination to get the steps as best she could.
Friend: "Hey do you want to go out to breakfast on Saturday?"
Me: "Sorry I can't, I have tap class."
Friend: "Oh wow, where do you take tap class?"
Me: "My aunt's house."
We continued this routine every Saturday, until we started to prepare for our big finale. Judy had the brilliant idea of having a recital to showcase our learning. Mary Lynn was a bit...reluctant, but after some negotiation with her agent, she signed her contract and was on board for the performance. Her only catch was: that it was a private show, each dancer could only invite two audience members, which her agent (herself) would have to approve of before extending the proposal. My cousin Annie, Judy's daughter, would print the programs, Judy would choreograph, Mary Lynn would costume design, and I would be the director.
When discussing what our recital's name should be Judy suggested we be called "The Rocky Hill Hoofers" but I tragically misheard and thought she said "Hookers". I tried to gently respond and say "I think Hookers has a bit of a negative connotation..." To which Judy and Mary Lynn burst into laughter so hard that tears were flowing by the time they could catch their breath and say "hoofers!" Little did I know that Hoofer is another name for a professional dancer, specifically a tapper. Whoops.
Miss Judy (left), Christopher (center), and Mary Lynn (right) after their big performance.
Our big dance combination was accompanied by the famous Frankie Valli and the Four Season's hit tune "Peanuts." Hours and hours of rehearsal, blood, sweat, and tears when into our routine. Okay, well probably not blood, but definitely sweat. Our theater was in Mary Lynn's garage (because Judy's floors had got refinished by then and we could no longer rehearse there,) and it was hot.
Mary Lynn got us green hats, and leis that she taped cartoon designs of peanut bags and actual peanuts to. Our uniform was a yellow shirt and black shorts, unfortunately I didn't have black shorts...
I don't know if I've ever had as much fun in any class as I had in Miss Judy's tap class with my Aunt Mary Lynn. We would be learning and improving, and most often laughing. As I am about to embark in my senior year of college majoring in Musical Theatre I still look back and laugh because of how much fun we had.
Our final pose in the "Peanuts" dance routine. Mary Lynn (left) Miss Judy (center) and Christopher (right)
*Cough* This should be made into a Lifetime movie, so you can see a montage of us rehearsing, bursting into laughter, and the water breaks we took... I'll write it, email me: ChristopherCastanho@Gmail.com. Cough*
Not many people can say they've taken tap class with their two Great Aunts, I fortunately can.
