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| Virginia Lee Wilson. |
Where did you first learn or see passion?
There she stood, not much taller than I stood in fourth grade,
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| Tom, Virginia, Tom Pat, Bobby Wilson. |
She also spent hours outside of her studio coaching, training, and
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| Norse Stars, NEO Drill Team 1953 |
I didn't grow up to be a professional dancer like some of her students, but I learned what Virginia Lee Wilson taught, that passion is powerful, and when we lead with passion from the heart we can make a difference.
That dream and passion instilled from Virginia Lee made a difference throughout my life. Most recently, on a family trip to New York City we spent an evening enjoying the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
How has passion made a difference in your life?
I think I might be in a couple of those group photos behind her. Those were the costumes my mother sewed every year x2!! I thought Virginia Lee and Tom were just it!!!! cwt
ReplyDeleteI took dance (tap, jazz, ballet) from Virginia Lee Wilson beginning in the mid 1970s. She helped me choreograph some tumbling routines when I was doing competitive tumbling during the 80s. She was the absolute best. She made us all believe we could dance (I lack coordination!) She made us believe in ourselves and that each of us were beautiful. Her and Tom's love for each other and for the studio is never to be matched. He was as much a part of the annual recital as anyone. Performing at the stage at NEO was the highlight of my year as a elementary and junior high student. She never allowed "helicopter parents". Still to this day I will break out in a shuffle ball change at any given moment. It is instilled in my brain for a lifetime. Monica Cox
ReplyDeleteThank you Monica for sharing. Your thoughts and memories are a tribute to Tom and Virginia Lee. They truly made a positive impact on the lives of so many young people and their parents in the Miami area.
DeleteMy mother made recital costumes for them for several years, especially when my sisters were taking lessons. Each year she looked forward to the report from Tom and Virginia Lee after their annual trip to New York City to report on the musicals they saw, workshops, etc. and how their experience found its way into the next year's recital. When I took ballroom, I was impressed by how they kept on learning -- that grownups felt that they had more to learn -- no small part of their amazing vitality.s.e.melrose
ReplyDeleteStarted taking dance lessons at age 4. I continued until I graduated from HS, taking ballet, tap, and jazz. I taught practices classes for younger students two days a week, too. Loved the smell of the studio as you climbed that narrow flight of stairs up to the studio! R.C. Rupart
ReplyDelete"Up a steep and very narrow stairway... to the voice like a metronome ...." How happy this makes me , I can not begin to say. In the fourth grade , I was a tap dancing postman in the year end recital; there were two of us; but, I cannot remember who my fellow tapper was.....I remember waiting ( seems like in an alley) behind the Coleman ( was/ is there such an alley?) ; and, clearly remember my first case of crazy , insane stage fright...it remained with me in varying intensity throughout my performing career. Remember , too, being ecstatic afterwards as if I had been shot into outer space discovering a new world.... I had; but, I was led there by two very caring , bright spirits . Both Virginia Lee and Tom tried to fan the flames as it were. I don't now clearly have it all in the proper time frame, but my family moved away for a couple of years. Coming back to Miami , I was into the band and drum scene ; and , whatever dance spark there may have been was to lie dormant for awhile or find it's relief in a march at half time or an improv at a Miami High Madcaps.
ReplyDeleteThe Wilsons had given me my first "real taste". I had a recurring dream for many years of me walking up those stairs and trying to get into the studio.... unsuccessfully. Like the name of my tapping dance partner , the sights, sounds , and smells all accompanied by those sweet Wilson smiles had left me. However , thanks to this pic and the article , I once again stepped through the door at the top of the stairs. Thank you.
I looked up to the Wilsons and to their talented students. My jogged memory sees Janie Sandmire and Roger Smith, and earlier, Ron Young from Grove , who went on to hold Broadway in his hands.... Perhaps too late to say thank you to all ; but not, I hope , to remember.
B. Hastings
I took tap and tumbling from Tom and Virginia from about third grade up through freshman year with two years of ballroom . Really had a lot of fun, Andy Smith from Commerce and I were together for most of those years . Years later I bought the old building for my business, The small room and office were still in pretty good shape but the big room had a lot of water damage from a leaking roof. The stairs were so worn I'm surprised one of us didn't get hurt in a fall . It was really strange to go up there and just remember the good old days!! J. Highland
ReplyDeleteLove the memories of dancing on the Coleman theater stage. My mom made my costumes, as well. S. Stoner
ReplyDeleteLoved her...danced under her direction for 7 years. J. Hatfield
ReplyDeleteI also took classes from her when I was about 5 or 6 yrs. old. What little I can remember of it! LOL! K. Stansell
ReplyDeleteMy mom sewed many costumes for my sister and me. We were in different classes and were 3 years apart. That was 4 costumes for each recital, working with satin, lace, netting, sequins, spangles, you name it. The costumes also often included hats! R.C. Rupard
ReplyDeleteLetty, what wonderful memories you brought back to me today. I was one of Virginia's students in the late 40's. I could not wait until the following week for our next lesson. I would practice at home daily. I probably would l have stayed as a students if we had not moved from Miami during my school years 4-9th grade. My mom and dad could not afford them when we moved back. She told my mom that I was a natural born dancer. Thanks for sharing your passion. It was my passion, too, one of many. Jr
ReplyDeleteGood memories, Letty! I took one year of ballroom dancing in 5th grade. James Wendelken and I were often dance partners because we were the same height back then. (He grew much taller; I stalled out at 5'2"!) Classes were such fun. I think they were on Thursday night. Thanks for the memories! COB
ReplyDeleteI started taking lessons when I was 3 years old and took until I was 16. I loved Virginia Lee and Tom. They were such a great couple and oh, all of those recitals! KR
ReplyDeleteI loved being in dance all those years! My siblings did, too: Nancy, David, Rick Adams, and me! She always told us not to go barefoot in the summers before a performance because we might step on a bee or glass! JAW
ReplyDeletehank you, Letty, for bringing to mind some sweet memories. I took dance lessons when I was young and ballroom dancing while in junior high. I was in her first drill team at NEO. Salt of the earth people in influencing so many lives. CTT
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful blog for some of our best memories of Norse Stars. She was really great. Thank you for sharing this. cr
ReplyDeleteLetty, your father was my example of passion. acb
ReplyDeleteLetty, That picture of mom brought back many memories, If you look at the picture on the left side of the page, that's me as a very young guy...
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