This is a wonderful story, and good for your father for taking the plunge out of the rat race! It takes courage to break loose, and it takes a variety of skills to make the break into something fun and productive.
Your father showed great courage in his willingness to pursue his dream, and clearly was rewarded with far more than money could ever buy. What a great inspiration!
It particularly resonates with me as someone who was left-brained his entire life, first as a chemical engineering scientist at Unilever, and later as a chemical engineering professor at Columbia. While I enjoyed those careers, my current joy is ballroom dancing, something I took up in my mid-50s. I had never danced in my life until a difficult divorce and the resulting loneliness provided the impetus for me to get out of the house and find something to do. A friend recommended that I take some dance lessons, so I figured, "Why not?" Well, I have been dancing for nearly 20 years now. Though on occasion I have been hired as a professional dancer, dance has primarily been a hobby. Most important, it has led to my meeting my fiancé, also a dancer. So I can well understand why your father found so much satisfaction in his later career.
Excellent question. My mother sometimes accompanied the troupe but mostly had her plate full with her own activities in New York. She sang with the Collegiate Chorale and New York Choral Society, was transportation chair of the Women's City Club (which studied civic issues), president of the Manhattan Region of Women's American ORT, and director of graduate education at Pace University. When she was diagnosed with cancer in 1980, Dad suspended his dance company to devote himself to her. When she died the following year, he was 64. At that point, he revived the Allnations Dance Company, and International House became, in effect, his surrogate family.
A wonderful story about your father and grandfather. Your grandfather must have built quite a business with 500 employees. And your father had the courage to follow his heart and not the money. Did your mom embrace folk dancing? It does take 2 to tango. And did you have to take dancing lessons before your bar mitzvah too?
How lucky you were that your father had a song in his heart and successfully pursued his dancing interests. You benefitted from his passion and I'm sure spread it to your children as well. Fabulous story!
I've been even busier than usual, lately, but I'm so glad I took the time to read your remarkable piece about your remarkable dad! I wish I could have met him.
What a moving and outstanding tribute to your remarkable father! What an amazing fellow he was. My daughter-in-law Tiana and granddaughter Sophia (both Salsa enthusiasts) would concur with the message your dad imparted to you and others. Thanks for sharing.
From reader Ruth Galanter:
This is a wonderful story, and good for your father for taking the plunge out of the rat race! It takes courage to break loose, and it takes a variety of skills to make the break into something fun and productive.
From reader Michael Hill:
Your father showed great courage in his willingness to pursue his dream, and clearly was rewarded with far more than money could ever buy. What a great inspiration!
It particularly resonates with me as someone who was left-brained his entire life, first as a chemical engineering scientist at Unilever, and later as a chemical engineering professor at Columbia. While I enjoyed those careers, my current joy is ballroom dancing, something I took up in my mid-50s. I had never danced in my life until a difficult divorce and the resulting loneliness provided the impetus for me to get out of the house and find something to do. A friend recommended that I take some dance lessons, so I figured, "Why not?" Well, I have been dancing for nearly 20 years now. Though on occasion I have been hired as a professional dancer, dance has primarily been a hobby. Most important, it has led to my meeting my fiancé, also a dancer. So I can well understand why your father found so much satisfaction in his later career.
From reader Concha Alborg:
What a charming piece, Dan! I wonder what role did your mother play in all this dancing...
Excellent question. My mother sometimes accompanied the troupe but mostly had her plate full with her own activities in New York. She sang with the Collegiate Chorale and New York Choral Society, was transportation chair of the Women's City Club (which studied civic issues), president of the Manhattan Region of Women's American ORT, and director of graduate education at Pace University. When she was diagnosed with cancer in 1980, Dad suspended his dance company to devote himself to her. When she died the following year, he was 64. At that point, he revived the Allnations Dance Company, and International House became, in effect, his surrogate family.
A wonderful story about your father and grandfather. Your grandfather must have built quite a business with 500 employees. And your father had the courage to follow his heart and not the money. Did your mom embrace folk dancing? It does take 2 to tango. And did you have to take dancing lessons before your bar mitzvah too?
How lucky you were that your father had a song in his heart and successfully pursued his dancing interests. You benefitted from his passion and I'm sure spread it to your children as well. Fabulous story!
I've been even busier than usual, lately, but I'm so glad I took the time to read your remarkable piece about your remarkable dad! I wish I could have met him.
What a moving and outstanding tribute to your remarkable father! What an amazing fellow he was. My daughter-in-law Tiana and granddaughter Sophia (both Salsa enthusiasts) would concur with the message your dad imparted to you and others. Thanks for sharing.
Love it. Terrific that your Dad lived it and that he has a son who has the talent to write about it.
A great story. I like the Tyger quote. It's something to live by.