Dancing the Passion, Passing It On
by Harriet Stuhlbarg Carroll
I've always loved to dance. Actually, I’ve been “jumping up and down” my whole life! My first dance lessons were at the age of 5 at Lala Bauman’s School of Dance located in the U. City loop.
I also don’t remember when I didn’t know how to play the piano. To develop that skill, I took piano and theory lessons at the St. Louis Institute of Music in Clayton for many years. I feel the education I received there has been instrumental in my technical ability to choreograph.
It was inspiring to have a professional musician/performer for a mother. She loved entertaining people with her extraordinary talent. I remember my mom practicing all the pop music – Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Peggy Lee, Doris Day, —all the time. I remember how glamorous she looked and how much she looked forward to and loved her job. She brought smiles to the faces of those who heard and saw her perform. I was very proud of her.
Mother taught my sisters and me songs from Broadway shows, and we would practice them at home. Whenever we went to see her, she would have us come up and join her “act” a little, and sing and dance to a few of the songs for the audience. I enjoyed performing.
A turning point in my dance career was when I took an Aerobic Dance class at the JCCA in 1979. The teacher asked if anyone wanted to make up a routine…I did… she kicked me out of the class!! That’s when Dance to Fitness was born!
As I’ve grown as a person, dancer and choreographer, so have my dance programs. I’ve felt passionate about them. Even greater than my passion for dance itself, however, has been my passion for helping others. In high school I began learning, through some difficult but invaluable experiences, how important it is to be “mindful” and considerate of others. I’ve always tried to apply these lessons in my teaching and in my life.
It was just five years ago, though, when I began to truly realize how very much people feel my classes have given them. That was when one of my clients, a professional actress from LA, spoke with me about what she felt was the “gift” I have when I teach and present my class. Previously, I had received many positive notes and e-mails from clients, but I guess I just read them and didn’t think too much about it (although I appreciated it). When this woman specifically pointed things out, I got out all the letters from clients that I’d saved since the 80’s and re-read them. It was a major enlightenment. That’s when I knew my ongoing purpose in life was to inspire and motivate people to be their best — to help them become more confident, joyful, expressive, sensual, healthy, and fit at any age. And, of course, discovering this way to be helpful to others, has helped me most of all.
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