Hazel
1 post
9-Jan-2008
5:05 AM
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Hi, This is my first question on this website, so here goes..Does anyone rememeber the Lera Rae Dance Studio that was on West First Street? It may have been in an older historic home.
I attended there, as a child, in 1958.
I have some great memories of my Saturday classes, and of our Recital held at the Belmont High School Auditorium.
I even have the program from the recital. (I was in a gingerbread cookie costume).
Does anyone else have any memories of this dancing studio?
And, also, does anyone have any photographs of the building itself?
I tried to find it in the Montgomery County Record online, but could not find it listed.
I'm wondering if it went the way of many other historic old buildings and homes, that were cleared to make room for Sinclair College.
Anyway, I think this is a wonderful site, and I just love browsing through all the questions and answers on here.
I just hope that one of our resourcful members has some info or memory on this.
Thank you so much!
Hazel
blueskyhaze@yahoo.com
Last Edited on 28-Jul-2008 5:10 AM
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kbarr11
3 post s
3-Feb-2008
5:04 PM
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This is my second time to post a message. Anyway, both my mom and myself took dancing lessons from Lera Rae. Initially, I took ballet at her downtown location, which I also remember as an old house. I took for 14 years from 1957 until I graduated in 1971. The majority of my lessons were at her location in Kettering. I remember her assistants when I was young, Lois and Delores. I, too, helped her teach when I was in junior high and high school. I really regret losing touch. I saw somewhere that she lived until she was 102 somewhere in Arkansas.
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Hazel
3 post s
9-Feb-2008
2:56 PM
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Thank you so much for your post. Yes, I do remember the downtown studio was an old house. I seem to recall that our dressing room was straight back from the entrance, and that there may have been a beautiful painting of ballerinas on the wall.
Also, when you came in the front door, the dancing studio was on the left.
I remember the piano was toward the front, and I seem to recall that we called our pianist Miss Ruth.
Have you ever danced professionally? And, were you in the recital that I recall at Belmont High School around the spring of 1957 or 1958?
Thanks again for sharing your memories!
Hazel
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kbarr11
5 post s
24-Feb-2008
4:25 PM
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I was in a dance recital at Belmont High, can't remember which year - I started in 1957 - we were strawberries - still have the pictures. Never missed a year until I graduated high school. I never danced professionally, which I really regret. I think this site is great and amreally glad I stumbled on it. I have read so many others' memories that touched my life growing up - one of them being Old River. I could spend hours reading the questions and answers. Maybe someone else with Lera Rae memories will eventually find this site!!
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xteechr
1 post
15-Jun-2008
5:30 AM
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I, too, remeber the downtown dance studio and Lera Rae as I took dance classes there from about 1956-1965. One memory is of the office assistant Mrs. Uhrig (sp??). She was an older lady who did not smile much and she terrified me! (In other words I remember her as a hateful old lady to be honest!) Mrs. Ughrig had a daughter named Marguerite who was a lot older than us (in her 30's or 40's , perhaps) who would be in our recitals as a main role in the "play" portion of it. I remember that one year the ballet RAPUNZEL was done---at Belmont High School. Miss Ruthie, the pianist, also played the piano at a supper club in Dayton. Also, I rememeber the Rayettes and the Subettes which were 2 tap dancing kicklines.
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Hazel
4 post s
28-Jul-2008
5:09 AM
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I just wanted to thank everyone who has responded and wrote a message about their memories of the Lera Rae Dance Studio.
I haven't been on here in a while, so I just now had the opportunity to read your wonderful letters!
If anyone else is out there who remembers the Lera Rae Studio, or Miss Rae, I would love to read your memories!
Last Edited on 28-Jul-2008 5:12 AM
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kbarr11
7 post s
4-Aug-2008
4:13 PM
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I haven't been on this site for awhile and decided to read it again today. I do remember the hateful old lady and Marguerite. Didn't Miss Rae play Rapunzel? I do remember her playing a part in one of the recitals where she had her long hair down. I did some research and found a couple of articles on her - one was about her 100th birthday party in Arkansas and also a death notice as well as information that she is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. I really really miss those days. I helped her teach classes when I was in junior high and high school three nights a week. I finally gave up my dancing after graduation in 1971 when I moved to Wichita. I am planning to come to Dayton in October and will try to visit her gravesite. She had a huge impact on my life from age 4 to 18.
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