I lived in a rugged logging community in the woods of Idaho. I started formal dance training in Boise, Idaho in 1951, at the ripe old age of 8 yrs. You can imagine how well this was received by my logging and construction father and his lumberjack peers. I had no choice: I was hooked on dance and couldn't imagine a life without it. Despite my father's deep protests, my mother fought for me and made it happen....She was my first angel. There have been countless others, dance teachers, schoolteachers, to friends and relatives, they've all supported my career, a career that has spanned dozens of movies, hundreds of tv shows, countless stage productions and decades of teaching.
I've written my life's story to teach you that anyone can achieve their dreams and that for every one of life's bastards that do their best to thwart your efforts, a beautifully unexpected angel will suddenly appear from nowhere and help you get there.
For years, dance colleagues and Hollywood legends have been after me to tell my life's story, in particular Lesley Evans, Pam Freeman, and Anita Mann. I write this for them, my family, and anyone else who needs an angel whispering in your ear that you can and deserve to have everything you want out of life. All I know is I've worked hard and I never ever gave up! If what I've done and I'm still doing inspires you to pursue your own special way, then I've done my job.