With Support And Inspiration,

The Show Does Go On At Lathrop School Of Dance

By Nancy K. Crevier

Diane Wardenburg, director, is bristling with energy as she anticipates the upcoming Lathrop School of Dance 58th Anniversary Stardust Revue, June 4-6, at the Edmond Town Hall Theatre. There are ads to run, programs to print, final costume fittings, and dances to fine tune. It is an exciting and happy time for staff, crew, and students.

There is a tiny halo of sadness this year around the recital, though, for Ms Wardenburg, with the loss of the school’s biggest star last November, co-founder Virginia Lathrop.

But as Ms Lathrop, her friend and mentor, would have told her, “The show must go on,” and Ms Wardenburg is certain that the June performance will be a show of which Virginia Lathrop would be proud.

Continuing to teach the children of Newtown to dance and to find each one’s individual gift remains the goal of Lathrop School of Dance, said Ms Wardenburg.

“When that new student finally gets that shuffle right, it’s big, I’m telling you, each and every time. You have to love what you do, and I think that here, we all do,” she said.

For over 25 years, Ms Wardenburg, or “Miss Diane” as she is affectionately known by her students, served as a teacher and assistant director alongside school founders Mack and Virginia Lathrop. For years before that, she was a student, starting dance lessons when she was just 4 years old.

“Ginny and Mack always pushed me to the forefront. They gave me the opportunity to just be there, and when Mack died in 1985, Ginny became director and I became her assistant director. Then I became Ginny’s legs about eight years ago when she had a stroke,” said Ms Wardenburg.

With Virginia Lathrop’s death, Ms Wardenburg finds that her role has once again evolved.

“I am the director now,” she said, “and I mean to continue with Ginny’s vision that dance must 100 percent be as joyful as it is disciplined. You can’t change your personality: Gin was Gin, Mack was Mack, and I am me. We came together, though,” said Ms Wardenburg, “in a way that flowed. Our philosophies were always the same: experience the dance and the different styles, and help our dancers gain confidence and poise for whatever they do in life.”

The loss of a principal from a business can result in a period of uncertainty. But Ms Wardenburg said the incredible support of the teachers and staff, many of whom have been with the school for more than 20 years, and the support of the families involved has allowed the Lathrop School to move forward smoothly through the past several months.

“I never felt that people were wondering what would happen to the school after Ginny died,” said Ms Wardenburg.

There have not been great changes since Ms Lathrop’s death, she said.

“Dance practices remain the same. We teach tap, pre-ballet, and jazz mainly. We have added a Zumba class for adults, and we will be adding Zumba for kids, Yoga, Hip Hop, and some Technique classes in the fall, but we stick with what we do best,” said Ms Wardenburg.

 One change is coming this summer, however, about which she is gleeful. The Lathrop School of Dance studio will move from the late Ms Lathrop’s Main Street home to a space in Edmond Town Hall. “We’ll still be using the gym, but the new space being renovated will have mirrors and dance bars, which we don’t have in the gym, and give us a waiting room, too,” Ms Wardenburg said. “We will also continue to use the stage, which I think is a real advantage for our students. They get used to being up there and it really helps in the performance,” she said.

‘Amazing Continuity’

The big performance for which the school prepares each year is the Stardust Revue, a three-day extravaganza of performances by over 200 students and teachers of The Lathrop School of Dance. This year’s Stardust Revue will be the first one in which Virginia Lathrop will not be seated on her stool to the side of the stage, raising and lowering the curtain, and encouraging the dancers from the wings.

“I was a little nervous, of course,” said Ms Wardenburg. “It was already in the works when Gin died. She always seemed ready for the next show as soon as the last show ended. A lot of thought went into this, but Gin’s not there to bounce things off. But she told me before she died, ‘If you need help, ask,’ and that’s what I’ve done. You look to the many people whose advice you need. People are helping me, and it’s wonderful,” she said.

“I’m so grateful for the assistance of the other teachers, especially,” said Ms Wardenburg. Lynn Lewis, Tamra Brennan, Colby Caron, Kara Clement, Amy Plude, Samantha Macchiaverna, Megan Robinson, Kaitlin Hollrah and Megan Sajovic all add their special touch to the classes that encompass dancers from age 3 to 50-plus.

“Miss Kaitlin handles all of our music from her dorm room computer, and Miss Megan was taught the choreography to one dance on Skype by Miss Kara!” exclaimed Ms Wardenburg. “Technology is wonderful!”

But no matter how great the technology, “You can’t run a good show if the tech end tanks,” said Ms Wardenburg, “and we really count on our behind the scenes people.”

Like the instructors, many of the backstage hands, sound and lighting engineers, and technicians have returned year after year, providing the expertise needed to produce a high-quality show.

“I think the thing that speaks loudest about our school, is that people don’t leave,” Ms Wardenburg pointed out. “It gives amazing continuity, and it confirms what Ginny always believed, that our school is and always will be a family,” she said.

Giving back to the community was very important to Mack and Virginia Lathrop, said Ms Wardenburg, and a percentage of the proceeds of the 58th Anniversary of the Stardust Revue, like the others before it, will be donated to various local charities. The curtain goes up with a special performance to benefit the Danbury Hospital Pediatrics Department, Friday evening, June 4. Two Saturday performances take place, at 4 and 7 pm, and a Sunday matinee at 1 pm. The Sunday, June 6 performance at 4 pm benefits the Newtown Scholarship Association.

Proceeds from the sale of recital flowers this year will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Roses and bouquets can be pre-purchased through Friday, May 28, with information on ordering at 203-426-3651. “Marg Studley has generously taken over organizing this fundraiser, and I am so appreciative of her,” said Ms Wardenburg.

“Every year since Mack died, the Lathrop School of Dance has awarded a scholarship to a Newtown dance student in need,” said Ms Wardenburg. “This year, Ginny’s name has been added, making it the Mack & Virginia Lathrop Scholarship,” she said.

A Tribute, Not A Memorial

The 58th Anniversary Stardust Revue would not be complete without a salute to the beloved, late dance teacher, of course. Closing the first half of the performance will be a short dance by the Stardusters, the top Lathrop School dancers, to “Smile,” by Barbra Streisand.

“The Stardusters will raise their arms to Mrs Lathrop’s empty stool at the side of the stage, with just a rose on it, and then raise their arms up to the screen where a PowerPoint presentation prepared by Bill Caron in her memory will come up,” disclosed Ms Wardenburg. “It’s a tribute to Ginny, but not a memorial. She wouldn’t have liked that. With her, it was always, ‘The show must go on!’”

Closing each show over the weekend will be another Stardusters performance, to “When The Saints Go Marching In.” It is the music that Virginia Lathrop selected to be played as she rode in the Labor Day Parade as Grand Marshal last September, her final public appearance.

“I miss her,” said Ms Wardenburg. “What I really miss are the conversations. Every day I come into the studio and look at this one, particular photo I have of her. It’s like she’s saying to me, ‘Hello, dear,’ or ‘Good luck.’

“In every [Stardust Revue] program, Ginny always had an open letter to the audience, staff, and students,” said Ms Wardenburg. “This year, thanks to the suggestion of one of our teachers, we’ve turned it around and have written a letter to Mrs Lathrop.”

“You were the best teacher ever,” begins the letter. “Besides teaching us the best choreography, you taught us some life lessons more valuable than countless riches….. We will always be thankful for the wonderful challenges you placed before us…. We all know what you would say, Mrs Lathrop: ‘This is the best show ever.’”