last november my home community lost a legend. ginny lathrop and was the founder of the
lathrop school of dance here in connecticut, a company that has taught thousands of students (including myself) the arts of ballet, tap and jazz.
during the 1930s vaudeville days of new york, ginny and her husband mack danced alongside showbiz classics such as fred astaire and were featured on the national programs like the ed sullivan show and the zigfield follies. they opened up the school in 1951, and back then kids came to the town hall and paid a dollar (a whole dollar!) for a dance class with the stars.
when i started dancing, mrs. lathrop was already 83. i know it was years ago, but as a child it seemed to me like she had hit an eternal stride, and would forever be seated in front of the stage in a huge rhinestone belt, shouting every opinion she had ("you stiiink!!!") at students of all ages; it seemed obvious that every year for the next hundred years the stardust review would reach the end of the finale and that cheesy announcer would say "and mrs. lathrop!" she would come out crying each time, every year would be the best recital she'd ever seen.
this weekend they held an estate sale at her home. i was in buenos aires last november during her memorial services, but wandering through her home, sifting through her outlandish costume jewelry, and seeing old familiar faces from the dance company was a really special way for me to remember mrs. lathrop.
