Women’s History Month. Sometimes the influence is not in national or world history, but in our own personal history.
Going to college was a given in our family. Education was the key to dispelling ignorance, opening doors, and self-improvement. I don’t think my parents ever said this in so many words, but the actions were there – reading to us, getting a library card at five years old, setting aside time for homework and reading. Our report cards were always discussed before Mom or Dad approved and signed. Books all over the house. My mom was a teacher. My dad was enormously proud of her.
Going to college near my beloved New York City was also a given for me. The lure of culture, museums, shows, clubs, shopping, diversity, and the buzz of energy on the streets of New York brought my twin sister and me to Wagner College on Grymes Hill, Staten Island, a 5-cent ferry ride to “the city.”
Jane Gardner maintained a tiny dance studio in a small area of the gymnasium. When I found out dance was an accredited course, I signed up for modern dance every semester I could. I got much more. Jane Gardner was also a tiny woman with long straight brown hair that hugged her back all the way to her waist. She was small, fit, articulate, and kind.
After one semester of barefoot dancing in her studio, we were privy to ‘practice’ there during off hours. Imagine five college co-eds in the mid-60s discovering African, Cuban, classical ballet, modern, or rock music that inspired dance steps and routines they had previously only dreamed of.
Mrs. Gardner, for she was always Mrs. Gardner, nurtured the lifelong habit of caring for your body while having fun. I was in the best shape of my life in body and mind during the semesters she mentored us. For mentor us she did.
Trust: Sure you can use the studio.
Confidence: Improvise, what does the music say to you?
Ambition: Come see Alvin Ailey dance at City Center.
See and inspired we were: Judith Jamison in her early days dancing, with attitude, in “Revelations,” Twyla Tharp and Erik Hawkins master classes. Mrs. Gardner had a dance idea– we followed, and never once was there a misstep.
The seeds of the habit of doing something physical and fun each day, to music, were planted in her tiny studio. The possibility that I could perform in a larger arena became a reality years later dancing with Serena’s Middle Eastern dance troupe in Central Park and Lincoln Center. Even today, fifty years later, whenever I hear music I have to get up and dance.
Thank you, Mrs. Gardner.
Love this post and the picture! Mrs. Gardner sounds like a wonderful mentor.
I tried salsa for a year and was amazed at how strong my legs became. Wish I had studied it earlier in life.
Dancing is a great endorphin booster too!
Love this post and the picture! Mrs. Gardner sounds like a wonderful mentor.
I tried salsa for a year and was amazed at how strong my legs became. Wish I had studied it earlier in life.
She is a wonderful Mom, too!
Hello Nick, What a wonderful surprise to hear this. I attempted to find Jane Gardner when I was writing this blog- googling, alumni at Wagner. No current info. Any way I can get in touch with her?
I am still taking dance classes at the Merce Cunningham studio, which is now at City Center. And I see dance performances whenever I can. I have recently asked some of my friends if they would like to see Twyla Tharp at the Joyce Theater in July.
I am still happily married to Romaine Gardner. We will celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary in June.
Hello Mrs. Gardner, What a pleasure and honor to be able to ‘find’ you. If you read my blog, you know the impact you had on me and my sister, Eileen and our small group of fans of Mrs. Gardner and dance. I continue to love dance, having been involved in some kind of dance instruction or another. For many years when I lived in NYC it was Middle Eastern Dance with Ibrahim Farrah; ballroom in NJ and now that I am in Tucson, I dabbled in ballet, tap, and now get to line dancing whenever I can.
Thank you for writing a comment and please imagine those young freshman girls with you when you go see Twyla Tharp in July.
Happy anniversary and best wishes for more years of happiness with Mr. Gardner.