Dance. Design . Glamour .
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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
What was your favorite subject in school?
I had two favorite subjects in school, the first being art, the second literature. They went hand in hand thanks to a good group of teachers that worked well together.
They were able to give projects that married the skill of writing and the imagination, sometimes expressed as art, music or dance. I remember a group ballroom dance instructors coming to teach one day. That was one of the best days of my teen life! Guess that’s why I ended up pursuing it later in my career. It turned out to be my favorite form of dance.
But back to school. I can remember eighth grade in particular as being the hub of creativity in a year’s time. There are many paintings and stories created. Poetry was in the mix, a favorite of mine too. We expressed our imagination through art projects and assignments. Mask of the Red Death as expressed through Phantom of the Opera illustrations, The Odyssey with all imagination paving the way, I was intrigued by Greek mythology, and looked forward to art class each day , where I could color my works to life.
My art teacher was able to cram a lot in in a year’s time and my Literature teacher was the best! There were teenage pains, breakups and braces, but I’m still able to remember the best times through creativity. It stuck for a lifetime. For that I am thankful.
~ McGlamorous
In Christian symbolism, the triangle is most commonly used to remind the viewer of the trinity. The three sides of a triangle reflect the three parts…
Triangle
What is your favorite form of physical exercise?
Dance. Absolutely. If you may ask. I love to dance and I live music. The two go together so well that they are one. I feel the best when I dance, express my heart to its fullest capacity when I speak dance and music. My heart is in the body as an instrument verses a musician , who may use just the instrument, although it is hard not to dance if you feel music. I’m not really a vocal communicator so I talk much better on stage! The glamour that goes with it is a bonus too. Costumes, music, glitter, travel and a disciplined life. Life has given me the most love, friendships, education and well-being from the art of dance. I’ve been a ballerina, a tap dancer, ballroom diva, salsa queen, oriental cabaret artist, Bollywood lover, and hopefully the list goes on..
~ McGlamorous
It’s the one big thing besides dancing that I get excited about. Guitar.
A few years ago I was sitting on my swing outside, really miserable and bored. I always loved listening to music on my iPad and did my usual check-in on Pandora and repeated listening to some favorite songs. I was playing with apps and found the Fender one. I did a quick download to see what it was like. Sort of liked it but thought….hmm I don’t know.
Great things come from those places you know? Surprises that you don’t see coming. Little did I know that I would my pick my guitar back up in a few years, get a subscription to their service, and be playing different styles like I love now.
It all began when my Mom gave me a subscription to Fender play for Christmas. I had been a professional dancer, gone back to class after semi-retirement and life was great. I was making art, jewelry, poetry, and living in pure bliss. Still traveling to Atlanta once a week to attend ballet class with a past instructor. That’s when life hit hard. I snapped a tendon in my knee , stepping off a curb, which let to complete burning an immobility in my legs. No more class, sadness, and it seemed to get worse mentally for me . I had lost my identity as a dancer and had to find something else to do.
Music was always as much of a passion as dance. Movement in dance feels amazing, but it’s the music that moves the dancer. I had always kept a little classical guitar going along with my ballet, but didn’t realize the options were so big for the guitar player and songwriter. It’s like dance. There is jazz guitar , punk, rock, etc. just like Ballet, jazz, tap, salsa dance. I started playing a lot more on the app and got excited about the future after years of moping around for something that inspired me again.
While I was healing I was browsing for good buys, dreaming of an electric. I had dreams of changing the world with my music! I was choreographing ideas right and left. This instrument here, this one there. It was going to be big. In reality this is a bit harder to do , but I’m still hopeful. I’ve learned that I love to write songs and melodies. It’s so much like dance choreography.
All the lessons and that instrument following me around were a gift from God. I believe that he gave me the talent and the classical guitar as a gift from my parents years ago so I would have something to transition to when I couldn’t dance as much anymore. With my Alvarez I could still waltz and tango and foxtrot!
Lastly in addition to this story , I was really inspired by my ballet teacher’s son to pursue the challenge of being a guitar artist. It’s strange how things work that way. Sometimes inspiration can come from different people and places , even people you don’t know. It’s good to go with the urge and find a passion again by following that urge. I’m forever grateful , mostly to my Mom, and good friends who always keep me going with something when I feel like quitting.
That’s what I get excited about.
https://on.soundcloud.com/j7e4U4AR2kjYBE6i8
~McGlamorous
Learn all about the color orange—and how to use its vibrancy to impact other colors.
— Read on www.artistsnetwork.com/art-techniques/the-positive-energy-of-the-color-orange/
It’s been years since I set memory on the old green-ish Aqua Chevrolet that belonged to my Dad. When I was growing up this cool ride was always dependable, always cranking up when the other newbies failed us. It saved my school attendance record many mornings , sometimes a terribly cold ride up the road with the non-closing door swinging open and laughter emitting from teenage classmates as I entered the dreary school halls , sleepy from long nights of dance rehearsals and hours of homework. It even got me to my first Valentine’s dance in middle school and served as a doghouse for a timid Collie named Lady!
My Dad sold the old truck as we cleared out the old and migrated into newer areas of life , yet it always crossed our minds. Dad passed away in 2004 and my Mom and I moved back to our original town roots. Lots of memorabilia has been with us for years, and after a quick sale of my Grandmother’s place where we had it all stored , all it it took was a move to stir up the past.
This time of my four-ties, as I go through the items , it is quite different from being a teen. As I look through our family history and photos, I see more questions emerge, thirsting for knowledge of my past family. Who were they? What did they like? What are my roots? It’s a different view and an interesting one, like searching through a treasure chest for surprises.
This morning was a little rough on the rise, our car not wanting to start due to a drained battery. We waited in despair, being hot and tired, when a stranger asked if we needed help. I spoke truth and asked could he jump us off, but he instead said for us to check the cable. He emerged with a claw-like tool that he used to scrape the old build-up off and wiggled the wires a bit. “Try it again” he said, but with no luck. “Needs a new battery.”
“Ok” I thought and spoke , the entire time thinking how to pay for it. Part of me was saying that’s somehow I know this leading somewhere. My anticipation was proved as a family of three walked up to us asking if we needed help, right as I started to put the hood down. I looked over and gave a thumbs up to the man who had begun the process. He smiled. “See lady, there are good people here n the world.” I admitted that that was true.
I thanked the stranger as he finished his breakfast and waited for a jump from the next assistant. This man explained alternator and battery differences to me and recognizing diagnosis of the car. It only took a second and we were good to go, but still in need of that big battery. It’s sort of like life when you just need a jumpstart. I rested a what’s next rest in the driver’s seat while my Mom hugged and thanked his wife. In the meantime they were plotting a very nice surprise. He came to my door, “Ma’am, would you like to follow me to O’Reilly’s and buy you a new battery?” . Thanks I thought. It truly was a blessing that I could not refuse. One of those kinds. I politely replied yes and agreed to follow him to the shop. Leaning over the battery in progress , we all asked each other’s names. “Who was your Dad?” He said. “Tyler McGlamry who had the McGlamry Bicycle shop downtown, you know him?” . I always use the shop as introduction, my family’s two generation claim in Cordele. “Yes I do, I bought a truck from him. I wish I had not sold it. It’s in a museum!”
I felt so much peace and really a lack of surprise mixed with joy, because I know how much God surprises us with these kinds of things. The truck was and had been a mystery. Its like something was solved. We found it! Years later and we found it! And how special for it to be in a museum. It’s been like finding past treasures. As I write this I do believe that we also found where my Dad sold his piano around the same time. But that’s another story to get excited about.
The move from Grandmother’s has been trying. We are currently without a home, on waiting lists and such, but also in a trial. It’s a test of courage and faith, stamina and such, but all within a warm bubble of God’s love. He is our caretaker, and I enjoyed the day today as I felt His protection of peace and care. He provides and nothing that is happening to us is by accident. Seek and you will find. Ask and you will receive. Everything from Him is a treasure. This I am learning again and again.
We will continue the journey and grow strong. I will update our story. In the meantime, I’m so excited we found Dad and the truck!
Thanks Dad!
~ McGlamorous
Which activities make you lose track of time?
I just realized something insightful today and a light went on. Next to reading and studying the Bible and being with God, the best use of my time is when I play my guitar. Music and practice seems is the best and most consuming use of time. What else can you
find that does that? Maybe art as well. It consumes time in a useful way, yet takes up most of my time without regrets! I can sit for hours making up new melodies and ideas.
The verse comes to mind , “So teach us to number our days , that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Ps. 39:4
~ McGlamorous
