Dennis (twinkle toes) and I both studied ballet at Florida Ballet Arts under Miss Jean (Jean Spear). Torture shoes he used to call our point shoes that caused blisters and bleeding--so right. Sometimes Dennis did lighting for our shows. His crush back then was another dancer, Becky Vinton.
Dennis and I ate lunch often at the Riverview cafeteria because we could never manage to make our own. Often there were just two or three of us from PV. I have no recollection of the food at all.
I remember Dennis having a fantastic wild cat--was it a lynx--at he and his Mom's place. I caught up with Dennis once, years later back in Sarasota visiting his Mom. He had joined the circus and was doing lighting. He told me the trick to joining the circus was to hide the fact that you went to college. To get in he said he swept up at his Mom's shop. He had had surgery to correct his lip. He married a gorgeous acrobat (was she Russian?). They lived in one of those fantastic extremely fancy circus trailors that had everything. It seemed to me the perfect life.
I was very surprised to learn of the suicide years later. I managed to exchange a word with his wife. She said it was all very sad. I got the impression that I never knew Dennis really.
Thank you for posting this, India. I'd been trying to bring back memories and was having a difficult time. Your words were very moving. Sad to hear of his suicide.
I remember hanging out with Dennis at the dance studio and being somewhat envious of his ability to move amongst all the beautiful young dancers. He always seemed to have a few clustered around him. I kept in touch with him after he ran away and joined the circus. He seemed quite content with being in charge of the lighting in those big arenas. I talk to his younger sister Nancy now and then.
I've been thinking about what to post since I read of Dennis' passing...
Spent a lot of time playing 2v2 on the PV basketball courts with Dennis, Ken, and Stan. Dennis graciously accepted having to play with me on his team. Day after day he put up with my mistakes on the court, and his athleticism kept the games close.
While he could be incredibly focused, I remember his kindness the most. Like India wrote, "I never knew Dennis really."
Gail Tyson (Nagy)
Found a link for Dennis in a summer program with the Florida Ballet Arts School - (July 16th, 1978)
see column entitled "FBA Holds Seminar"
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19780716&id=iiMhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5457,451414
India Starker
Dennis (twinkle toes) and I both studied ballet at Florida Ballet Arts under Miss Jean (Jean Spear). Torture shoes he used to call our point shoes that caused blisters and bleeding--so right. Sometimes Dennis did lighting for our shows. His crush back then was another dancer, Becky Vinton.Dennis and I ate lunch often at the Riverview cafeteria because we could never manage to make our own. Often there were just two or three of us from PV. I have no recollection of the food at all.
I remember Dennis having a fantastic wild cat--was it a lynx--at he and his Mom's place.
I caught up with Dennis once, years later back in Sarasota visiting his Mom. He had joined the circus and was doing lighting. He told me the trick to joining the circus was to hide the fact that you went to college. To get in he said he swept up at his Mom's shop. He had had surgery to correct his lip. He married a gorgeous acrobat (was she Russian?). They lived in one of those fantastic extremely fancy circus trailors that had everything. It seemed to me the perfect life.
I was very surprised to learn of the suicide years later. I managed to exchange a word with his wife. She said it was all very sad. I got the impression that I never knew Dennis really.
Lynne Berggren (Buchanan)
Thank you for posting this, India. I'd been trying to bring back memories and was having a difficult time. Your words were very moving. Sad to hear of his suicide.
Michael Eaton
I remember hanging out with Dennis at the dance studio and being somewhat envious of his ability to move amongst all the beautiful young dancers. He always seemed to have a few clustered around him. I kept in touch with him after he ran away and joined the circus. He seemed quite content with being in charge of the lighting in those big arenas. I talk to his younger sister Nancy now and then.
Rob Goff
I've been thinking about what to post since I read of Dennis' passing...
Spent a lot of time playing 2v2 on the PV basketball courts with Dennis, Ken, and Stan. Dennis graciously accepted having to play with me on his team. Day after day he put up with my mistakes on the court, and his athleticism kept the games close.
While he could be incredibly focused, I remember his kindness the most. Like India wrote, "I never knew Dennis really."
Requiescat in pace, Dennis.