Dancers by Rukmani3 Pepito & Joanne Godspell
My Real Memoir
The moment it exploded out of my radio speaker, “Your Mama Don’t Dance” felt like my theme song for the year ahead. I’d refused to “get a job,” despite pressure from my dad, and insisted on making a living doing something I actually liked. And somehow I’d gotten it into my head that dance studios were the ticket. I’d teach acting classes at dance studios, and direct musicals that would give those actors and dancers a chance to perform!
But only one dance studio was interested. Former vaudeville stars Pepito the Spanish Clown & Joanne the Twisting Marvel had founded a popular performing arts academy in 1941. Sadly, it wasn’t the creative beehive it had once been, and Pepito and Joanne were, well, tired. Still, they had flyers printed. But no one showed up.
Next, I found Alice, a free-spirited, pot-smoking redhead whose husband was a fundamentalist preacher. How did that work? He laid down the law, and she danced around it. Alice was all in, but again no one signed up. However, I’d made friends there, so I hung out for a while, shuttling miniature ballerinas in the studio van, and being richly recompensed in hugs.
Two potential romances budded there as well. The first with an unbearably beautiful dancer who, after refusing to go out with me on the weekend, explained that I was “a Tuesday date.” So we had a lovely mid-week dinner and (I thought) a very romantic walk. But I never made it to “weekend date” status.
I also flirted with Alice’s delectably freckled dance-teacher daughter Meredith. She invited me over to watch the Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii tv special with her and her roommate. I sat through bejeweled and bellbottomed 70s Elvis, hoping to taste every freckle on Meredith’s face. But when she said she was tired and I could sleep over if I wanted, I got cold feet—what if she really just meant “sleep”? I’d lost at love, and with it lost my confidence. So, I ended up dating her roommate instead. It wasn’t love, but it was safe. And anyway, the kind of big, impossible love I longed for seemed as illusory as my dance studio plan.
Meanwhile, the movie version of the musical Godspell had just been released. I’d been infatuated with its featured song “Day by Day,” and intrigued by Jesus’ words in a hotel Bible. So I dragged my friends Rick and Carly to see it. I was overwhelmed. Apart from sleeping through The Greatest Story Ever Told, this was the first time I’d really heard Jesus’ teachings. And not as a string of “religious” quotes, but as a singular, coherent love letter from our creator. No, I wasn’t ready to leap into the void, but, I told Rick and Carly, if Jesus really was from God, I’d follow him anywhere. Why? Because, for reasons I couldn’t understand, his message seemed to tap directly into my longing…
For that big, impossible love.
My Real Memoir is a series. To read the next one, click here.
I had the same reaction to godspell. I never felt the words so powerfully.
Annie? WordPress says “Anonymous.”
Godspell helped many youth “take the leap TO faith.” 🙂
I love these examples of how God was wooing you to himself. It gives me great hope for family and friends who haven’t made the leap to faith yet!
So glad you see that here, Nancy. It’s the main reason I’m writing my memoirs.
We were in the youth conference and took Godspell apart piece by piece. We analyzed it grammatically, Biblically, musically, and spiritually/emotionally. We pronounced it, “Good”. We did the same thing to Jesus Christ, Superstar. It was a bit mushy on the Biblical issues. The difference between your experience and mine was that I had been a Christian a long time before I saw it. I wondered how it would have been like to have this your first real introduction into Jesus’ teaching. Thanks for that insight!
I’ve met a few old school religious folks who thought Godspell was mocking the gospel. And just today, I read a review by a non-believer who calls it a “creepy” movie about a guy who “brainwashes” people into leaving their rational lives and joining his delusional “cult.” Ah, well, I’ll just have to settle for telling my story.
I saw Godspell as a young adult too, and it really spoke to me.
<3
Mitch! This is your best memoir post yet! OMG! I loved every word of it! You have had quite a chock-filled life! Can’t wait to read more! KEEP WRITING!
Aww, I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Joanne. And I promise to keep writing.
These types of “memoir” posts are beautiful parts of your redemption story. Jesus is glorified in the sharing.
Thanks, Joseph.
Charlee: “Our Dada says, and your Daddy don’t rock & roll! Although I have no idea how Dada would know that since he never goes out or sees anybody …”
;>)
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A Tuesday date…haha, the girl must have had a ton of suitors. I can’t remember ever having that sort of hierarchy in the dating days of my youth!
;>)
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