My Favorite Jeannie

Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met?

Atlanta was a great place to live and work in the Y2K. My dancing career was productive as well as work. Events at the Atlanta Apparel Mart were great ways to catch a celebrity sighting. After a long days work handing out food or answering the kiosk, we kicked back with a beverage and some snacks on the last evening with a performance by Tony Bennett. I got to see him live and study him closely as he walked by. A small , seemingly sweet man. Loved his music too.

Ballroom life was the liveliest, and the most like being a celebrity. Growing up I had always looked forward to the Ohio Star Ball competition , admiring and dreaming of dancing like those that I saw on screen. God does know the desires of our heart. Little did I know that a few years later I would be taught and influenced by so many dancers in the field. Some of my faves were Jean Marc Genereaux, France Mousseau, Pierre Allaire and Mireille Veilleux. There were also Tango dancers such as Chicho Frumboli from the Tango lesson movie, coaching with Dancing with the Stars dancers before there was even a show! It was such a blessed span of years.

In contrast to Bennett there was the fighter Evander Holyfield. Very tall and somewhat quiet that day, he was standing in plain view right down from my absolute favorite Jeannie , Barbara Eden, who also spoke on T.V. for the ballroom comps! We were working a hotel for corporate T.V. right across from Nickelodeon, where she made a day’s appearance! Very polite and down-to-earth, she took a photo with us and complemented our dancing.

One last minute job at Hard Rock Cafe produced an adjacent work room to The Gilligan’s Island sweetheart Marianne, and as a jewelry show model I got to briefly chat with Andy McDowell.

There may be some I’ve forgotten but those were the days!

~ McGlamorous