An Open Letter to Benji from "Gramma Skippy"             Aug. 2006

CONGRATULATIONS young man - on winning the top award on  “So You Think You Can Dance?”   I also watched you on the Kelly & Regis Show  - following the conclusion of the competition - and you were GREAT!  You can be proud that you had an entire dance community - world wide - cheering you on through the whole competition.  Heidi did a great job too. 

There are a few of us around who turned back time as we watched the show -  back to when your father was the young “one man show” who kept us laughing and applauding.  I was watching you,  Benji - but I was seeing your Dad out there.  Years ago when Buddy first started teachers training with GSDTA., he was just a kid.  (a skinny kid who loved to dance)  He worked hard on all the dances, and became quite good at teaching the Universal Unit System.  He danced all of the dances, and when he went in the service, Marilyn Curtiss, one of our GSDTA teachers, kept in touch, letting him know what went on at the studio.  When Buddy came back, he soon became one of our top performers and starred in all of our shows.  This was the era of the Golden West Ballroom, in Norwalk, CA - home of the big bands - and also home of the biggest dance event of the year in 1976: The Bicentennial New Years Eve Show was a sell-out and the show was repeated at the Century Plaza Hotel. Your Dad was our resident comic, who not only did great dance performances, but was always standing by to do a clever move or two across the stage - to give the other dancers time to change costumes. 

The finale of that show was the introduction of my “What Is America?.”  (Little did we know that a song I had written in 1976, would one day be featured on  Bob Barker’s TV show.  I also got to sing it for 30,000 people on a football field, honoring California’s Governor Dukmejian.   The song will soon be on our website.)

Benji - Time passed - and although I saw your Dad from time to time, I had not met you and Lacey.  I told Buddy that I felt bad because I hadn’t met his kids.  He assured me that Benji knew who I was.  He had told him about me and had shown him my picture.  I was his “Gramma Skippy.”  The picture part should have been a clue.  Benji - when I finally met you, you were only about 5.  (You had seen pictures from the 1970’s).  You looked at your dad - and looked back at me - and said - “You’re really OLD!”  Buddy looked stunned - but we laughed ourselves silly.  The truth is - time marches on. 

Through the years, we all watched you rise to star status - and I was very happy to be able to host your going away party when you were heading off to your mission in Mexico. (Picture above)  In July, 2005, after returning from your mission, we were all delighted to have you and Lacey perform, at our Reunion Ball at the Marriott Hotel. It was a nostalgic moment for many of us - some  who dated back to the 1950s - 60s and 70s - up through the present.  I was also very proud to present you with the GSDTA “Service Above Self” Award. You really earned it.

We are all in your corner Benji - You have a very promising career
ahead of you.    God Bless and Keep up the Good Work
Much Love,
Gramma Skippy