By Mary Anne McCarthy
No broken legs … But plenty of energy and sparkle on Saturday,
June 27, when Lana’s Dance Studio marked its 25th anniversary
performing its annual production recital at San Jose Civic
Auditorium.
By Mary Anne McCarthy
No broken legs … But plenty of energy and sparkle on Saturday, June 27, when Lana’s Dance Studio marked its 25th anniversary performing its annual production recital at San Jose Civic Auditorium.
South County actives temporarily transplanted themselves for the day to downtown San Jose to watch the culmination of many hours of dance rehearsals and years of experience putting on such an elaborate showcase.
The theme “Let’s Get This Party Started” set the tone for the evening as Morgan Hillites greeted Gilroyans with “Oh, your child dances with Lana Too?!” and “Everybody’s here!”
Drs. Richard and Leslie Schmidt attended the show to see their daughters Loren and Teddy perform. We do miss Dr. Rich’s presence in the chorus line this year, though a Caribbean beat and island juice sets his wannabe Trinidadian feet a-movin’ better than “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
Michael Bonfante, Sr. was spotted in the audience enjoying the performances of granddaughters Haley and Ashley.
Pastor Anita Warner of the Morgan Hill Lutheran Church and her husband Mark were there to support their son Luke, one of many boys that study dance with Lana’s studio. Luke knows where all the girls are.
As a ballet trained dancer, I still wince when family and friends of the performers holler out “You go, Kelly (or Suzy, or Cindy, or Joey, etc.)!” before the piece starts.
It ranks right up there with clapping before the fourth movement of the symphony is finished, but call me old fashioned. I still wish a performer to “break a leg,” which I’ve been told is now politically incorrect. That might send them to a Kaiser emergency room, heaven help them.
Speaking of “old fashioned” … coming home for the 25th annual dance concert were many alumni, some of whom flew in the week before the performance, learned and rehearsed original choreography on Thursday, then performed with incredible energy to the music of Gloria Estefan.
The audience was treated to the choreography of alumni Pauline Locsin who danced with the Lana Wright Dancers from 1980-88. Ms. Locsin now resides in New York with her restaurateur husband Matthew Kanter.
Ms. Locsin has an impressive resume including the Broadway national tour of “Promises, Promises,” “Jolsen, the Musical,” a member of the less leggy, shorter group of Radio City dancers and recently as an actor on “One Life to Live.”
Lucky for South County Ms. Locsin plans to move back to Morgan Hill with her husband and with Mr. Kanter’s big city expertise open a restaurant with FOOD glorious FOOD! Here’s hoping for the possibility of something other than pizza or tacos. Welcome to South County, Mr. Kanter.
Many other Lana Wright dancers have gone on from the studio to performing careers elsewhere, such as Trina Tinzly, a Lana Wright dancer from 1979-88.
Ms. Tinzly danced for the San Jose Jammers and was a Golden State Warrior girl. Over 15 of Ms. Wright’s dancers have become Saber Kittens, and probably many more will, given the status of the Sabercats’ championship season. Congratulations Muni!
You’re all adorable and we thank you, Lana, for teaching our children rhythm, grace, stage presence and one heckuva shimmy.
Ciao for now.
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