Country music flowed through the hills of Alleghany as Patrick Swayze
sang “froggy”
songs on his guitar – with a Texan’ accent, of course, and kept all enthralled
on the “Bernie Bus” holding nineteen dancers
(and a precarious driver) on their way to dozens of Western New York Schools. Dancing
their way into the hearts of
uninitiated ballet enthusiasts, this
troupe, mainly from the Royale Dance Theatre, accompanied with guest
artists from the Pennsylvania Ballet, jostled along at six am, with a barrage
of ballet bags resting on turned-out feet.
Patrick, or “Buddy”, as he was known, a talented nineteen year-old, and the recent winner of
gymnastic, trampoline, and “Dancer of the Year” awards, was hustled up to Buffalo by prima ballerina,
Michelle Lucci’s
friend and manager,
Randy Schwartz. Lucci, a
former student, was to dance with our touring group and was thrilled to have a
Texas ‘cowboy’ who doubled as a delightful dance partner for six weeks.
Son Mark joined in the fun, telling jokes, (which he does to this day), while his younger brother Matt
snoozed up by the heater. The ten-foot trailer held dozens of costumes, huge
speakers, sound and
lighting equipment,
our dance
floor,
and
my speaker’s gown which, by the end of the tour was held together with duct
tape as well
as everything else in the trailer! Buddy was overwhelmingly loved by principals,
teachers, and especially kids who were spellbound by his gymnastic &
trampoline tricks.
Who knew that Patrick Swayze was to become a star, both on Broadway and
then in film? From what I have heard, he
kept his humble beginnings in his heart and do hope he remembered his first
professional engagement here in Western New york.
In the huge ( and overcrowded) costume storage of the Royale, hangs the
blue ruffled cowboy shirt used in his performance of “Americana” with Sandy
P, and in a special vase in the bathroom, his coveted “boar” hairbrush,
left in my car as I drive him to the airport.
I cherish the memorabilia, the photos, the memory of a fine young man, but most of all, I remember the sweet “Froggy”
songs, sung with a true Texan
accent. So do my kids!
 |
| Scene from "Americana" (Arthur Fiedler's) Patrick kissing "Irish Girl" Patti Makey. Karen Lorshbough looking on |
Sandy P is Sandra Perez, who is an Associate Professor of Dance at Towson University in Baltimore. Sandra was also partnered by Patrick Swayze. I remember he was so taken with her he proposed to her several times.
ReplyDeleteHe proposed to me too. But I was only 2 years old. He told me to call him him in 20 years. I used his hairbrush for years!
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