DO40's Legacy Awards - The Biggest Hit of 2011!!

STUDENTS, FANS AND FRIENDS TURN OUT on December 11th
to HONOR PHIL BLACK, LUIGI, BELLA MALINKA, FRANK PIETRI &
JOE TREMAINE at LIPS RESTAURANT

Talk about a tough room!  Host Lee Roy Reams called it a “horde of hoofers!”

CLICK HERE to view more 2011 DO40 Legacy Awards Photos.

Dancers of every generation arrived to honor their teachers – and their teachers’ teachers at DO40’s 3rd annual Holiday luncheon and awards event, held this year at the over-the-top LIPS Restaurant on the East Side.

Lee Roy Reams began by giving his 2010 Legacy Awards speech about Harvey Evans, since he was unable to honor Harvey when he got HIS award last year due to planes and the damn weather.   Our board members told Lee Roy to keep it “classy,” and that lasted about 30 seconds, and it was uphill from there! (or the other way around, depending on how you look at it!). 

The only honoree not present was first up --  Phil Black. Although in good spirits and doing well, Phil could not leave the Actors Home in New Jersey where he now resides.  So DO40 went to NJ in November and taped a segment with his “kids” giving him the Legacy Award (with “drumsticks” in hand!), which DO40 presented first up at the luncheon.

Mary Menting (photo at left), Phil’s sister, accepted the award for Phil at the event, and told tales of the old dance studio on 50th Street – above the dance hall hostesses on the second floor! -- and some GREAT Phil stories.  Lisa Mordente, a Phil student from her teen years also spoke about Phil, as did Daniele Brisebois, who flew in from LA for the event.  Daniele was Phil’s youngest tap student, whom he made teach the ADVANCED class one day, when she was six – yes, six years old.  Daniele went on to be the youngest dancing orphan in the original ANNIE, and to LA with Archie Bunker’s Place and many other TV appearances.  She is now an award-winning songwriter, and was with the group The New Radicals in 2000 and wrote one of their hit songs.  Daniele saw Phil from an entirely different perspective, being the youngest – and probably, one his smartest students!

The Love Fest continued alphabetically with Luigi (photo at right, with DO40 President, John Sefakis).  Susan Stroman and Francis Roach spoke for Luigi, and in his acceptance speech, Luigi uttered the first expletive of the evening, which had host Lee Roy Reams and DO40 President John Sefakis follow suit!  It was all about Facciuto, that’s all, just Facciuto!

Our only female teacher was next, and as if our program didn’t have enough information on her, student Steve Boockvor proceeded to give the history of Bella Malinka, year by year… and managed to be humorous at the same time (some might say…).  2010 Legacy Award Honoree Stuart Hodes then spoke of his professional relationship with Bella when both were teaching together. 

DO40 President John Sefakis had to assist both Luigi and Bella (photo at left) with the microphone to make sure the audience heard every word.  And with Bella, well, she almost got lost behind the podium!  But she perservered, continued for about five minutes at which time Sefakis reminded her she hadn’t even LOOKED at the 20 hand-written index cards she brought to the podium with her!

Founding DO40 member Frank Pietri (photo below, right) had a loyal following at his tables.  Actor/singer/producer Kurt Peterson (did we leave an adjective out?!?!?) extolled Frank’s virtue as a teacher.  Frank’s life-long friend, director/choreographer Graciela Daniele then spoke of Frank’s largesse when they were young struggling dancers in the big city, and how Frank and his mother always looked after her.

Last, and proverbially certainly not least, it was West Coast DO40 member Joe Tremaine’s turn to be honored by two of his loving “leading ladies,” Lisa Mordente and Karen Prunzik.  Not to be outdone -- by anyone, Joe took to the stage in a verbal tour-de-farce, honoring others, thanking some and taking the audience through this Louisiana boy’s journey to the big city and fame and fortune, in sort of a Shecky Greene, Don Rickles-inspired monologue. 

DO40 also recognized tap teacher and long-time member Jerry Ames, who died last February.  He was an extremely affable and cordially dapper man, who carved out a tap niche for himself in NYC, and also had a very loyal following.

The food was great, the room, extremely theatrical in both design and attendees.  As with all DO40 events, friends found old friends, met new ones and potential DO40 members were spawned.  Everyone was in and out in the allotted three hours (and, well, seven minutes!). 

The impromptu finale included a rousing tap duet by that infamous comedy team of Reams and Evans.  Or is it Evans and Reams?  (YOU ask them!).  Host Lee Roy Reams cajoled and prodded DO40 board member Harvey Evans to join him on stage for an old tap duet they learned in Cincinnati back “in the day.”  They tapped, sang, and fortunately did NOT collapse when it was over! 

Joe Tremaine

The Legacy Awards will be available for viewing on DO40’s NEW MEMBER-ONLY page on thiswebsite.  Right now, Phil Black’s appearance with his students in New Jersey is up, as are the videos from our October West Side Story event, hosted by Harvey Evans. 

The Legacy video clips should be up in the next few weeks.  Yet ANOTHER good reason (as if there weren’t a ton already!) to join DO40, wherever you are!

Click on a photo below to see the enlarged tribute

CLICK HERE to view more 2011 DO40 Legacy Awards Photos.

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THE DANCERS. THE MOVIE. THE DO40 EVENT!

WEST SIDE STORY AT 50 October 9, 2011
at St. Luke’s Theater, NYC

by Marcina Zaccaria

DO40 President John Sefakis at the Q & A section of the WSS Event,
with Host Harvey Evans, Bert Michaels and David Bean
(also onstage shooting footage for us to donate the Lincoln Center Library, Manny Santiago

CLICK HERE for More Photos!

The Audience Responds!

“I loved every minute of it.  I must confess I melt every time I see Harvey Evans.”

“I can't stop thinking about the evening….so glad that you video all of these events.  This information is so precious to preserve.  Imagine how happy the viewers are who live too far away to get to the events!  What a learning tool for the young hopefuls.”

“What a fabulous day yesterday!  It was absolutely perfect!  That film meant a lot to me - like Joe Mantegna, I saw it 11 times! And of course, like everyone else, I was madly in love with George Chakiris - he was plastered all over my teenage walls.  The 3 "live" guys onstage were amazing, and the continuation afterwards at Joe Allen's, with lots of old friends, was the perfect ending.  You have done an amazing job - I salute you!  It just gets better and better.”

“Now THAT was fabulous!” 

On Sunday, October 10, 2011, D040 members and NYC theater and dance fans gathered at St. Luke’s Theater in NYC to celebrate West Side Story at 50 – The movie, The Dancers, the Documentary.  There was a spirited panel and Q & A with the audience about the play, movie and documentary by Peter Fitzgerald, with additional footage by Robert Banas and Harvey Evans.  The unreleased documentary features dancers remembering the filming of West Side Story, and the lives that they’ve led after the film was made.  The dancers were happy to discuss the camaraderie they’ve had throughout the years (left, Bert Michaels, Harvey Evans and David Bean).

Host Harvey Evans and original Jets Bret Michaels and David Bean were there to share their insight on the making of the movie.  Unfortunately Russ Tamblyn had scheduling conflicts and Al Verso had a last minute emergency and could not attend.  We DID want one Shark in attendance!  Harvey has been instrumental in helping to preserve the History, Legacy, and Lives of the dance community – and the community of West Side Story dancers.  He shared what it was like to work with Mr. Robbins, and remembered the ‘Yes Sir’ mentality that many dancers had when working with him.  In pushing the dancers to their limit, Robbins often made the dancers better, and perhaps there was something magnificent on screen because of that.  

Harvey said the dancers felt like they were walking on eggshells when they were around Robbins, but so many also felt blessed that Jerry had chosen them to do the show.  They always tried to find a way to say' thank you' to him for giving them this special opportunity -- and sometimes they told him off -- and he liked it!  Harvey was asked by an audience member if he ever thought about the fact that he was part of the “Golden Age of Theater and Dance.”  He responded with a Gwen Verdon quote, “Well, if I had known THEN that it was, I would have!”

In the audience with DO40 Prez John Sefakis: DO40 Legacy Award Winner Gemze de Lappe,
Director/Choreographer and Advisory Board Member Larry Fuller and Betty Jacob

Other great stories were shared about the different vantage points of seeing the work.  The documentary catches the dancers warming up and exercising on location and shows vividly that many scenes were shot on the land where Lincoln Center was later built.  The original film, of course, featured music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  The movie starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno and won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.  The 50th Annual Version of West Side Story is being re-released on November 15th on Blu-ray DVD.  The re-release boasts hundreds of hours of restoration, new 7.1 digital audio, and a collection of bonus features.

Many thanks to everyone who came to the event, and of course, many thanks to Harvey Evans, David Bean, and Bert Michaels for sharing their perspective and their unique point of view.

The fabulous Marge Champion, DO40 Advisory Board Member and Legacy Award Winner,
with West Side Story cast member David Bean

CLICK HERE for more photos of the DO40 WSS Event.

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Dancers Over 40 - Plans for 2012!

We’re already gearing up for our second DO40 CARES dance concert to benefit Broadway Cares/EFA and Project Achieve and Columbia University & the NYC HIV Vaccine Trials Unit.  Our venue has moved to midtown, to the Ailey Citigroup Theater, The Joan Weill Center for Dance, 405 West 55th Street.  Director/choreographer Larry Fuller again joins in the choreography duties along with some newly minted DO40 member/dancers and choreographers.  Our dance committee includes Fuller, DO40 member Joy Serio Dunbar and Equity VP Kim Jordan.  Tickets will be on sale in January through Telecharge.

Monday, March 12, 2012 - DO40 Cares II

Monday, May 21, 2012 - TAP!!

Our last event of the season – our big Spring event is TAP!, hosted by DO40 member Mercedes Ellington.  TAP – like you know it and like you don’t.  TAP through the eyes of history, and our members’…. It’s about time! (steps!)  This event is tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 21st at St. Luke's Theater and will also be available through Telecharge.  St. Luke’s Theater, 308 West 46th Street.

Please join us as a member or Friend of Dancers Over 40 to help support us in producing these incredibly important events.  We simply cannot do it alone!  Membership dues are just $45.00 annually for NY/NJ/CT residents and $35.00 out of the area.  And if you don’t live in NYC, we videotape all events and put them on our youtube channel.  We will eventually turn to a member-only site, so it will be increasingly important to be a member – wherever you live!  We’re working to get you the best “bang” out of your dance buck in these tough times!  And this year, the DO40 membership discount code will be on the back of your membership card, and it will be good for all events THIS season!  It will be important for members to have their membership cards available at all events or when purchasing tickets!

Telecharge has a special number for DO40 members, 212-947-8844.  Mention your DO40 Discount Code and you’re ready to go!  Non-members can call 212-239-6200.  Both members and non-members can use the website, www.telecharge.com for tickets. Tickets will be available in January for the DO40 CARES dance concert and TAP! event.

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In Memoriam: Jerry Ames, Crandall Diehl, George Martin

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In Memoriam: June Havoc - DO40 Board Member passes at 97

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Dick Andros Memorial Service - SRO, just as he planned it

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Patrick Wenning offers DO40 members Physical Therapy discount