Image = Meet Your Heroes!

This post is not about movies but my other lifelong passion – Broadway.  Going to Broadway shows was an integral part of my life being raised in NYC and to me there is nothing like seeing a Broadway show on Broadway.  The energy and magic of live performance – I am always blown away by how Broadway performers can do what they do eight times a week.  The Tony Award nominations were announced last week so ‘tis the season to celebrate The Great White Way! 

I studied dance for many years and to me dancers are the most astounding performers.  My all time favorites are Gene Kelly, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Chita Rivera, Gene Anthony Ray and Gregory Hines.  At a recent gala for Amas Musical Theater , I met a Broadway dancer who inspired me from a very young age.  His name is Hinton Battle and Amas honored the 3 time Tony winner for his phenomenal career on Broadway and beyond. 

My mother took me to my first Broadway show, The Wiz when I was 5 years old and it was also Hinton’s first show, playing The Scarecrow at age 18.  Mr. Battle went on to star in Dancin’, Sophisticated Ladies and Dreamgirls on Broadway – all of which I was too young to see at the time. Then I saw The Tap Dance Kid while I was singing & dancing at the High School of the Arts and Hinton was the star of that show too.  The Tap Dance Kid was a powerhouse of dance and earned Hinton his second Tony award.  I will never forget it.

At the beginning of the gala, I said hello to Mr. Battle and told him it was an honor to meet him and expected that to be that.  But as the evening progressed, I had the opportunity to spend more time with Hinton who was incredibly gracious and interested to meet a fellow dancer and Broadway baby.  Later, when an original signed poster from The Tap Dance Kid was unclaimed at the auction, I saw another opportunity to have a permanent souvenir of an incredible event – and so I grabbed it.  Then I had a great photo opportunity with Mr. Battle that I will cherish, with my collector's item poster, forever.