Brush with Stardom

The air was warm and thick, and filled with the daytime sweat of dancers bearing their soul on the studio floor. I had seen shows from all over the world, but this display of performance was unlike anything I had seen before. However, the most unique part of this experience was not the fierce tenacity and unmatched technique demonstrated by the dancers. The most interesting aspect of this story was that only moments earlier I was enjoying a cup of coffee in the deli next door, completely unaware of this underground world of dance.
I was in New York City this past April with Project Dance Times Square. Project Dance is a concert that currently takes place on four different continents that inspires and uplifts audiences with positive works of art. My dancers were performing in the concert which takes place out doors at 44th and Broadway. While waiting for them to enter the stage, I decided to take a break from the cool air, and enjoy a cup of coffee at the adjacent deli.
Shortly after purchasing my favorite brand of Columbian decadence, I decided to go outside and find my friend Jessica, another dancer, who had accompanied me on the trip. I walked downstairs to find Jessica’s eyes wide, and filled with a level of excitement she couldn’t express. She quickly grabbed my hand and began running ahead.
“What is going on?” I asked as I bumped into irritated New Yorkers while unintentionally jogging along the sidewalk.
“I just saw someone famous”, she whispered loudly and she continued to run ahead. “It’s the red-head just in front of us.”
I couldn’t see anyone ahead, and began to think Jessica was confused. Just as I started to confront her and convince her she was imagining things, Jessica came to a sudden and complete stop.
Standing in front of us was a short, red-headed woman who was fishing through a ring of keys, trying to get into a building. She must have heard our footsteps, because she quickly jolted and turned around to look at us. Jessica and I were frozen solid. Upon seeing her face, we knew exactly who this was.
It is impossible not to recognize Melanie LaPatin, the fiery red-head whose work has been featured on stages from all over the world. Not only is she a choreographer for the television phenomenon So You Think You Can Dance, but she is in high demand as a coach for top dancers and actors in film, television and Broadway. She has choreographed and appeared in such major motion pictures as Dance with Me, The Thomas Crown Affair, Let It Be Me and The Last Days of Disco. As a dance coach and choreographer, she has worked with some of the most renowned film and television personalities including Pierce Brosnan, Renee Russo, Vanessa Williams, Tim Robbins, Mary Steenburgen, and Susan Sarandon.
Jessica seized the moment by whispering a nervous and broken, “Hi.”
Melanie looked at us, frozen in amazement. She gave us a questioning glance, but before she could speak, we turned and began to walk quickly in the opposite direction. She probably thought we were stalkers and we wanted to escape her judgmental glimpses before the police were notified.
After walking about five steps forward, we could hear someone quickly catching up with us.
“Hey”, we heard someone call to us. We nervously turned around to find Melanie LaPatin standing only inches away. Our hearts skipped a beat. We knew we were in trouble.
“Are you two dancers?” she asked.
We quickly nodded, still afraid of what her reaction would be to our stalker-like behavior.
She smiled. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”
Suddenly Jessica and I were pulled from our reality and ushered into an alternate universe. The next five minutes felt like we were on the set of a movie. We followed her back to the door she was attempting to open earlier, and were escorted inside. We immediately stepped into a rusty, steel elevator, and went to the top floor.
“Where you girls from?” Melanie asked.
“Texas.” We nervously replied.
She smiled. She knew the next moment would blow our minds. Girls from Texas don’t usually find themselves in situations like this.
We tried to apologize for stalking her, but she just smiled. She proceeded to tell us that what we would see next would change our lives. The dancers she was working with were using new techniques in ballroom that no one had ever seen before. They were all amateurs, but she was sure they would take the world by storm.
When the elevator door opened, dancers immediately began to fly into our faces. There were several couples dancing around the room in what seemed to be improvised routines. The dancers had a way of staying in the moment that was intoxicating. They dazzled us with their speed and poise, and we couldn’t help but move with them. The room was dark and the curtains were drawn. The experience felt like a private performance created just for us. I found myself holding my breath. I didn’t want this moment to end.
Jessica managed to snap a few pictures, but nothing caught on film could describe the hallucinogenic vibe of that studio. We thanked Melanie for being so generous, and she invited us to come back anytime. She walked with us back downstairs and we said our goodbyes. After walking about ten steps forward, Jessica and I made eye contact and released an exhilarated squeal of delight. We were both shaking with excitement.
After returning to Texas, we would tell our tale to anyone who would listen. Those five minutes of bliss challenged us to dedicate ourselves more passionately to our work and our students. Melanie and Tony LaPatin continue to work with students at their studio in Times Square. For more information on their choreography and studio, please visit www.dancetimessquare.com.