Today my heart and thoughts are held by the memory of Tommy Russo, who passed away Sunday morning with his children by his side. He was about nine days shy of his 98th birthday. To say that Tommy is one of my greatest inspirations only begins to describe it. Tommy irrevocably shaped my thoughts and feelings about dance, and gave meaning and depth to my identity as a St. Louis swing dancer. His stories and enthusiastic narration turned snapshots of city streets, ballrooms, and people into palpable, moving pictures. With the serendipity of Tommys ability to execute some partnered and solo dance steps (although it was a deep frustration to him that he could no longer move like a 22-year-old) and remarkable recall of details, he was one of the first to illustrate to me the breadth and richness of swing dance, telling me early in our relationship, Youre a great dancer, Im not knockin ya. But when we were dancing, if you didnt change steps, you might as well go home. Later, his approval of my growth as a swing dancer gave me a rare and unequaled pride. He played records for me and reinforced my passion for music as a guiding force for the dances: That music, boy. If you stand still you were dead. Beyond the steps, Tommy offered me the imagery of sitting on the cobblestones and hearing powerful big band music pour out of the steamer St. Paul as it cruised down the river, a glimpse of what the Big Apple looked like at the Arcadia Ballroom, of spaghetti as payment for a floor show, of baseball at Columbus Square, of tailored suits, fights, streetcars, musicians. Tommy, thanks for everything. I miss you all ready. And to the best of my ability will carry on your memory and legacy. Rest in peace, and in swing. youtu.be/gKSEGQf1tI4
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 16:24:32 +0000