MORGAN HILL
– Echoing across the large hard-wood floor of Dance Unlimited,
Choreographer Phillip James voice called the 11 women of the
Fabulous Flappers dance group into action.
MORGAN HILL – Echoing across the large hard-wood floor of Dance Unlimited, Choreographer Phillip James voice called the 11 women of the Fabulous Flappers dance group into action.
“Ready, and … five, six, seven, cross. One, two, three, kick. One, hop, two, shake, three, four, chassé, five, six, seven, eight, up.”
The Flappers, which have won two straight I Love Dance competitions in the over 40 age division, moved from a kickline to spinning while shaking their hips and shoulders as James commanded.
The group works for six hours a week with James in hopes that he will help them to their third straight title. The reason they keep going to James for instruction? Well, his experience in dance combined with local honors are reason enough.
In addition to leading the Flappers, James co-owns Dance Unlimited and teaches dance classes, judges national dance competitions and recently was named the “Best Choreographer of 2002” by the San Benito Stage Company at its recent awards ceremony at the Elks Lodge in Hollister for the dance numbers he created for a musical production of “Annie Get Your Gun.”
“It was a family show. We had different sizes of bodies and different talents,” James said of the show. “The cast was really friendly, and they worked really hard. They are all motivated.”
James said it can be difficult to bring something new to a show that has run hundreds of times, but that’s the fun part of being a choreographer.
“The shows have been run so much you can look at them on video,” he said. “You don’t want it to be the same. If it was the same, what is the purpose of hiring me?”
As James gave the Fabulous Flappers a break from their drills to work out their routine together, he said “I’m a workhorse, huh?”
He may say he pushes his students out on the dance floor, but the women of the Fabulous Flappers seemed to be smiling a lot more than looking like they’ve been given too much work.
“Don’t be fooled,” he said. “They’re getting really competitive. They really want to defend their title.”
James definitely is more comfortable talking about his students’ dance awards and accomplishments than his own.
“Last year, I had three boys and six girls that won scholarships to Las Vegas,” he said. “So far this year, I think there are seven people who have scholarships already.
“Some of the kids have gone on to bigger things,” he continued, naming a cheerleader that went on to be a Saberkitten cheerleader for the San Jose Sabercats arena football team and another that cheers for the Gold Rush, the San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders. “They’re going out into the world and using those skills. I’m glad to give them a chance to do that.”
James’ own background in dance also begins in cheerleading, where he began arranging cheers for the Overfelt High School team in San Jose, where he grew up.
“That was eons ago,” James said. “I started doing that and it changed everything.”
James said he liked coming up with routines for the team, but it wasn’t the same as putting together a dance routine.
“It’s dancing, but it’s real stiff,” he said.
Soon James was taking dance classes at San Jose State University and Evergreen Community College after being told by his high school vice principal Paul Wilson to go after a career in dancing.
“I guess he saw something in me that I didn’t,” James said. “Then I got hired at a dance studio in San Jose.”
Ten years ago, James had the opportunity to have part ownership of the Morgan Hill dance studio and took a chance. Since then, James has been happy to stay and continue teaching.
“I like to share dance with people,” he said. “We have some really good teachers here.”
