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Does anyone remember Miss Ruth who taught dance lessons in or
around Twining? We would be interested in any information anyone might have. We would also
be interested in any information about the piano player that accompanied Miss Ruth. |
Noreen from AuGres gave us this picture, and we received a number of responses from website visitors:
Neil in East Tawas told us that Miss Ruth operated a dance studio in East Tawas for 30
or more years and she went to the various towns in the two counties and had dance classes. Elaine from Florida wrote to say that she took tap
dancing lessons from Miss Ruth. She remembers having a dance recital in Omer at the
Community Hall. Miss Ruth also taught her baton twirling and acrobatics, cartwheels,
handstands, headstands, etc. This was in 1947 and 1948. Below is
Elaine's picture:
Delores in Kalamazoo wrote when she saw Miss Ruth and the unknown piano player picture
on our web site. She wrote that Miss Ruth's piano accompanist was her Aunt
Erma Burnside Bellville. She played for Miss Ruth's classes, recitals and benefits for
over 20 years. Aunt Erma, though, couldn't read music. She played by ear. Near the end of
their working together, Aunt Erma was making records of the music for Miss Ruth to use.
Delores took lessons from Miss Ruth at the Normal School in Standish and can
remember recitals at the high school. She recalled that she also had students do
acrobatics and that Eileen from Standish was the best at back bends. Delores still
has her baton. Erma's daughter Carol provided the following: Miss Ruth Klish, before moving to
the Tawas area, had been in vaudeville and personally knew Irving Berlin. She gave Erma
sheet music signed by him. Carol thought Miss Ruth had also been in the circus and
after being hurt, turned to teaching dance. The picture on page 16 of the album was taken
at Miss Ruth's home. These were sent out as Christmas cards. Gene from Standish writes: I took lessons from Miss Ruth 5-6 years in the late 40's, tap
dancing and baton and gymnastics. I hated the gymnastics because I was never very flexible
and every time I had to do a backbend, I'd fall backward on the floor. My friend Betty
could tie herself in knots so that didn't help my self esteem either! Actually the whole
thing was pretty hard to swallow for an 8 year old boy, but my mother was determined that
I was to be "cultured"! Every spring we had to do the recitals. My mother had to
make 2 or 3 costumes for me and my little sister, and had to sew on several hundred
sequins by hand on each costume. Not only did we do the recital in Standish, but for 3-4
years I also took part in the recitals in Omer, Twining, Whittemore and Tawas. I guess I
lived through the whole think ok and actually can still remember some of the tap dances,
although it's not a talent that I get a lot of requests for!
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A recital |
Gene and Carolea |
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Marie in Washington writes, "Miss Ruth was not only my dancing teacher, but a
friend and second Mom for 9 years. I can still remember the many times when we climbed up
on the flat roof above the dance studio, and just talked, and laid in the sun. We kept in
touch over the years until her passing. She was one in a million!"
The ACHS appreciates everyone sending their memories and pictures after seeing the Miss Ruth picture on our website with our comment. Its nice to know so many people are enjoying our website.
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