Dancers Recall Memories as Melba's Holds 50-Year Gala Celebration
Most dancing teachers would be happy to start a dance school that succeeds for a generation. But when a dancing school thrives for a second and third generation, it deserves our attention.
On October 27, 2007, dancers from around the country gathered at the McAllen Civic Center to celebrate 50 years of history and dance memories. Many of those memories were captured when Melba Huber, founder and owner of Melba's School of Dancing, asked former and current students to write their reflections at www.MelbasDance.com.
"The 50-year gala celebration proved to be a fun time of sharing dance memories, reconnecting with dance friends (deleted comma) and of course, dancing on stage at the Civic Center," says Huber. "There were some former students who got to dust off their tap shoes for this event with a master tap class taught by Robert Reed following the Gala Show."
It wouldn't be the first time former students have dusted off their tap shoes. "When Gregory Hines came to teach a master class at Melba's in 1987, former students came from everywhere," says Huber.
Although some people might call her Mrs. Huber, her young dancers affectionately call her "Miss Melba." Now on her third generation of dancers, Melba's and Melba have become household names. Like Elvis or Cher, no last name is needed.
Although some former students have gone on to dance careers as teachers and performers, others recall lessons that have carried them through life. Being self-conscious about her height during elementary years, Sheri White-Matz (student 1970-1981), heard this advice from Miss Melba: "You are not going to look any shorter if you slouch. You are going to look like you are tall with bad posture." White-Matz also remembers what every Melba's student has heard during the last 50 years: "A real lady never chews gum."
"My experience at Melba's and with Melba shaped my body while it shaped my character and soul," says Sylvania Reyna (formerly Bunny Morales, a student from 1960-1975). "It happened because of a woman's intensity for her passion. It was contagious. Melba made me feel what I learned much later to be known as 'dance as if no one else is watching.'"
"To this day, Melba is still a guiding light and a soft hand that rests on my shoulder. She continues to inspire me with her strength, grace and love."
Meredith Sutton, Carey Kinsolving, Sylvania Reyna, Rosie Zimmet, Melba, and Kathleen Black give Robert Reed a standing ovation. Photo by: Abe Robledo
Reyna combined her dance at Melba's with fitness training, pioneering low-impact aerobics and a consumer friendly dance workout program called "FitTAP" in Southern California. She graduated with a dance degree.
Some people know what they want to do early in life. Melba's friend of 63 years, Betty Lou Neville, recalls Melba in junior high school: "She opened her home to classmates, who listened to Glenn Miller and other old-time greats while Melba showed us dance steps."
While Huber taught her friends in Beaumont, Texas how to jitterbug to the tunes of the big bands, another Melba was playing some music of her own. Melba Stewart, Huber’s 98-year-old mother, sometimes played the piano at the Judith Sproule School of Dance to pay for her daughter’s dance lessons. After Huber started her own school, Stewart used her fingers in another way. She sewed costumes for recital programs.
Kirk Clark, owner of Clark Chevrolet, recalls his Melba's dance memories, which date back to 1961. "After several years of ballroom dancing, Melba approached me to become her first adagio dancer. I was more than a bit apprehensive. But when Melba told me that more than 25 girls wanted to try out to be my adagio partner, my apprehensions quickly subsided."
Clark says he took a lot of heat from his fellow athletes about dancing at Melba's until he challenged them to join him one morning. "I told them that if they could complete the warm-up, I would pay them five dollars each. A full back and tailback took up the challenge. They both crashed before the end of the warm-up, and I was 10 dollars richer."
Kirk's buddies didn't complete the warm-up, but when they saw all the beautiful young ladies, they warmed to the idea that dancing at Melba's was cool. When they asked to join the dancing class, a huge class of athletes followed. Huber never sent them a bill for dance lessons, and they didn't forget her generosity. When they danced in her recital, they presented Melba with flowers and season football tickets.
Texas dancing teacher Ronnye Williams Patterson (student 1966-1978), says she still carries a sheet of paper in her billfold that Huber gave her entitled, "Being a talented dancer DOES NOT make you a talented teacher." She must have learned that lesson well, (inserted comma) because she serves as the new president of the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing.
While the dance and life lessons continue at Melba's, former and current students gathered on Oct. 27 to celebrate 50 years of memories. There were proclamations from the Mayor of McAllen and from Texas Governor Rick Perry. Special guests attending from California were Arlene Kennedy and Zelde Malevitz. The reception opened the event in the theater lobby with a Power Point presentation of old photos, while a jazz combo played inside on stage. The gala performance followed with dance, music and memories.
“Students came from so many different states,” says Huber. “I can’t believe something like this happened to someone while they are still living. I will never forget this day and the great reunions that took place with former dancers.”
Read more of Melba’s columns on www.melbasdance.com