Diary of a Dance Dad: The Art of Being Rhonda (Miller that is)!
They truly don't see themselves in the same glorious light that we do. Even though they relish the spotlight onstage, they avoid the spotlight off of it. Compliments are received graciously, yet almost awkwardly. They are appreciative of the attention but never aggressively seek it. What I admire the most about them is there approachability. The way they make you feel when you see them, like they are no different than you.
One professional who epitomizes that genre is Rhonda Miller. Jessica has taken master classes and private instruction from Rhonda for 8 years. Given the successes that she has attained you would believe it justifiable if she presented herself as extremely busy and distant. Not Rhonda. She is a people person. Her memory of her students is dynamic and profound. She is always willing to take time to visit with them and share her personal evaluations and experiences or help enlighten them in any direction they desire. She has a true appreciation for talent through hard work as it exemplifies her own journey. Her ability to make you feel comfortable and at home around her allows students to open up creatively and emotionally to levels many teachers cannot inspire. A perfect example of this was at a New York City Dance Alliance summer intensive that Jessica attended. Rhonda was a guest teacher who was given several students to choreograph a number for. One of the students was Jessica. "Kiss Kiss" was the piece, a jazzy up-tempo song that demanded sharpness and attitude. Rhonda likes to call her style "snappy and distinctive." At that time, Jess wasn't a real "jazzy" dancer; instead, more of a ballet technician. Rhonda knew this. A perfect time to work together on unleashing some of that jazz spirit out of its shell! When my wife and I came to see the closing performance, we couldn't believe the transformation! To understand Rhonda, you need to see a little about where she came from.
Rhonda was born and raised in West Virginia. She had a special affection for her dad who seemed to keep her well grounded. "He would say, Rhonda, we all wear underwear and put them on and take them off the same way!" She grew up admiring the great Liza Minnelli. Her sparkle and presence in "Cabaret" inspired Rhonda's dreams and desires and would be the catalyst for her pursuit of a career in dance. To this day, Rhonda still takes class with Liza at Luigi's Dance Studio in New York. "She actually calls me by my first name," Rhonda boasts with the awe inspired little girl still inside! She attended college at the University of Utah, attaining a BFA in Dance. Once completed, she pursued her master's degree at Oklahoma City University. Dance director Jo Rowan was a true source of inspiration for Rhonda, who now graces the walls of the University as the first woman to be inducted into its illustrious Wall of Fame. Her accomplishments are many. She is in exclusive company as one of the few choreographers invited to assemble a number for the "ELAN Awards" and has been invited back for three years in a row. She has choreographed for film, television, videos, commercials, theater, and industrials. Rhonda received the distinction of being one of six emerging Broadway choreographers chosen for the 2003 SSDC showcase "Dance Break." She most recently was hired to choreograph the upcoming rendition of "Annie" for Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Theater. The lists of accomplishments in her young career are too many for this article, but are a testimonial to her drive, determination, and work ethic. Yet, she remains humble and confesses, "I am not interested in the nastiness of the business. Surround yourself with good people to fall back on and you will succeed. Dancers today are so much more informed than when I started out."
Ultimately, it all comes back to how easy it was for Jessica to establish a relationship with Rhonda. She motivates Jess to pursue her dreams and achieve her goals. She has helped Jessica determine the assets she is blessed with and utilize them to her advantage, yet challenging her to work hard in developing every aspect of her dance. Ultimately, helping Jessica learn what it will take to captivate her audience much like Rhonda herself has done for many years. All this is presented with an uncanny openness and casualness that is an art. The "Art of Being Rhonda." •