^Love of Graceful Movement

b\ Shirliannr (J'unthfr SWAITNON - A little love goes a long way and can sometimes get a whole county singing and dancjerrv^l,ove' Barber, a dance and gymnast teacher, is part of a family that has.beeirdedicated at keeping the creative spirit alive and moving in Cape May County Kor more than 30 years Barber has taught dancing to thousand of area youngsters. Most locaT teachers got "hooked" on daricing under her expert and capable instruction * — Barber comes by it naturally. Her family — the Love Family, includes such notables as the late Luther "Ludy" Love and the equally famous Love Sisters Ludy wrote songs for Frankie Avalon, Ernie Kovacs and other greats Local people remember him as a violinist, composer and later as Cape May City public relations director. The Love Sisters— Gladys and Madeline — worked with Jack Benny and played the Palace Theater. THE YOUNGEST OF the Love children, she stayed home and brought the dance into fullness with her teachings. In her own way, she has probably contributed more to the dance than any other single person in the country , Barber started in the business at the tender age of 12. t - "My parents thought it would be a good experience to go to New York and take the three-day examination for teacher,” she recalls. "No one thought I'd pass, but I did and got my teaching credentials." Barber wasted no lime in open-

ing a dance studio. At the age of 12 she taught lessons at her Benton Avenue home in Cape May. Lessons were held on a 4 x 8 foot piece of plywood and cost fifty

cents

1IEH TALENTS might have been lost to the community if her parents hadn’t been so strict. She won while performing on the Major Bowes show and was offered a chance to go on tour singing and dancing. Her parents said, “No!” Later on the young girl auditioned with the Rockcttes in New Ydrk and was again offered a job. Her parents refused to allow her to leave home. At 18 her hopes were crushed, but she wasn’t bitter. s “My life was turned the way God wanted, it - working with kids," she says, watching her young gymnasts perform on the high bars at her studio here. Shortly after she turned down the job with the Rockettes, she taught dancing for the City of Cape May at Convention Hall. “H helped fill in the void," seh said wistfully. “I came from an artistic family and dancing was all Cape May County had to offer

youngsters then”

BARBER'S FATHER Halsey, and her brother Kenny, even got into the art world with exhibits and mini galleries set bp in Cape May. But to the young girl, dancing was more important than

anything.

Barber always kept her fees low and because of this the doors were open to countless youngsters who

JERRY LOVE BARBER explains a movement to student.

students and remembers them well. “Judy Hansen, now director of the County Mosquito Commission, Was no bigger than a hop toad when I taught her,” she reminisces, smiling. In one year Barber taught well over 400 students. ^ ) Three yea>l ago Barber changed over to gymnastics and turned many of her dance students over to her pupils who had gone into

teaching.

•T DECIDED AFTER all the years of dancing I was tired of the __t I..I T no n

open 10 counuesb yuuilB&ieia WIIV "O Y JJJ ■ o could easily afford the $3 per Nrigid schedules. I did gym as a lesson charge which remained hobby and decided to get ^to it. constant through the years. She It’s a whole new ballgame; in the still keeps in touch with her first form, the. body is carried dif-

ferently,” she said enthusiastical-

ly.

She seems to be attracting as many youngsters to her gym as she did to the dance. And she has a top flight group of instructors

helping her.

Coach Bill Easter won the National YMCA gymnastic championship five years in a row. Easter coached Steve Cohen and Pete DiFurio who went on to be members of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Team. Mark Cohn; one of the members of his YMCA team, went on to capture numerous all-round medals in college, National YMCa meets, Pan Am Games and the Machabe

Games in Israel.

IN ADDITION TO a fine staff, Barber’s gymnasts are in top shape. Kaye Sciarra, Stephanie Banter, Marie Flacco, Maxine Hankin, Lora Betts, Jennifer Oille, B.J. Sikora, Ann Orlando, Nicole Reichard, Kim Omundsen and Stephanie Orlando—members of the Flying B’s 9 to 14 year old groups— havtcarried the enthusiasm of the dance

into gymnastics.

Marie and Jennifer worked on the balance beam doing flips in the air as Stephanie fairly flew over the vault. “Good girl!” said assistant coach Gerry Mansell.

I off the bar

icding I

"It’s called “ripping", “she said quietly. “It’s because she hasn’t been on the bars for awhile,” said

a parent.

THE HUGE GYM was alive with activity as Barber checked out the-youngsters. There was no music and the dance was stilled, but somehow the rhythm seemed in keeping with the creative spirit of the Love family. Somehow you felt that sooner or later the gymnasts would be bringing some new dimension to their art. Perhaps a dance. . .or a song. A Love song, of course!

Jennifer Oille jumped off

and looked at her bleeding hand.

HEAD COACH BUI Easter and Jerry Love Barber flank studenU: B.J. Sikora, Ann Orlando, Nkole Reichard, Kim Osmnndsen, Stephanie Orlando; and (rear); Kay Sciarra, Stephanie Barber, Marie Flacco, Jennifer OUle, and asst, coach Gerry Manusell. IO/JUHt INI

SMrlianne Gunther o/Cope May Court House is a freelance writer.