T25CL Galaxy Talk Radio: Presents

Straight Talk With The Hired Brush - Host: Barbara McGee

Sunday, February 8th – 8:30 PM Pacific 11:30 PM Eastern

Description: Revealing conversations with various guests celebrity clients and co workers in the entertainment industry talking freely about their professional and personal triumphs as over coming obstacles featuring Confessions from the Superheros!

Guest: Traci Bartlow, Founder and Creative Director

Topic: Starchild Enterprise

Oakland had their Hellzapoppin’ #4 in January 2015 there was an opportunity to learn classic routines that we have all seen in the movies - Shim Sham, the Big Apple, the Tranky Doo and, of course, the partnered swing dance that gave rise to all swing dances, the Lindy Hop.

This year they featured Ms. Norma Miller and guests from all over the country. Their guests include Paulette Brockington (MI), Chester Whitmore (CA), Chazz Young (NV), and the Queen of Swing 95 year old Norma Miller (FL).

Chester Whitmore, a California native, is a dancer, composer, comedian, actor, choreographer, stuntman, bandleader etc. - a multi-talented teacher that continues to surprise you. He started out as a tap dancer in 1974 and for many years he was a protégé of the famous tap legends John Bubbles. Fayard Nicholas (The Nicholas Brothers) and Leonard Reed (creator of the Shim Sham). He has been teaching in a number of genres most notably at the Alvin Ailey dance school in NY, lecturing at the renowned Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. and literally across the globe. Mr. Whitmore is an outstanding teacher & performer, whose knowledge of tap and vernacular jazz is endless.

Paulette Brockington, a Detroit native, is a dancer, writer, choreographer, narrator and actress, who started the swing scene in the area with classes in Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing and Chicago Step in 1996. A protégé of Frankie Manning, Ms. Brockington not only introduced swing to the Great Lakes area but, also, created the American Lindy Hop Championships kick-starting such contests around the world. Her work in swing earned her Michigan State University’s Heritage Award. Her work in the performing arts garnered her Art Serve Michigan’s Arts Educator of the Year. She backs all this up by being a two-time world swing dance champion and internationally known dance coach and judge.

Chazz Young, a native New Yorker, now calls Las Vegas home. He is a spectacular dancer who has had a long and successful stage career inspired by his father, Lindy Hop master Frankie Manning. Today he tours worldwide, spreading the gospel of Lindy Hop and Tap. His father introduced him to his dear friend, Norma Miller, who was looking for some dancers. He traveled extensively with the Norma Miller Dance Troupe to the likes of London, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and, of course, Harlem’s acclaimed Apollo Theater. He continues to actively perform, choreograph and teach internationally. He has traveled to the Kindy Hop’s Mecca, Herräng Dance Camp, Sweden, to teach since the early 90's.

Called the Queen of Swing by many, Norma Miller is an author, choreographer, dancer, comedian and actor whose career spans over eight decades. Discovered at the age of twelve in the 1920’s, Ms. Miller has been in show business ever since. Honored with a 2003 National Heritage Foundation Fellowship from the National Endowments of the Arts for her role in creating and continuing to preserve "the acrobatic style swing dance, known as the Lindy Hop," Ms. Miller continues to be an inspiration to all who know her. Ms. Miller has worked with the greats in the entertainment industry such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Richard Pryor, Debbie Allen and Spike Lee. Ms. Miller continues to travel throughout the year, making appearances at a number of swing dance festivals and jazz events around the world. In addition to teaching master classes, Norma also performs her comedy act and screens the "Queen of Swing" documentary based on her life. 

Starchild Enterprise was founded and is creatively directed by Traci Bartlow. The organization, an Oakland based entertainment company, is multidisciplinary, working in dance performance, dance instruction and media works to name a few. EastSide Cultural Arts Center, its partner in Oakland is Hellzappopin" #4 presents free youth art classes, cultural programming, public art projects, ongoing gallery exhibitions, community town halls, and the annual Malcolm X Jazz Arts Festival.

Please "Sign-Up" and log onto to T25CL Galaxy Talk Radio at http://tinyurl.com/nefk6dr and speak to my guest on the show. Ask questions and get to know them and their works.

Sundays – 8:30 PM Pacific 11:30 PM Eastern

Host: Barbara McGee
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Phone Number: (724) 444-7444  Call ID: 131959#  Pin 1#
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