After judging the talent show I attended the Larkin Dance Recital with my mother and sister. The Larkin Dance Studio has been a big part of my family for the past 17 years. This year’s recital was in memory of Shirley Larkin, the founder of Larkin Dance Studio, who passed away this past August. Mrs. Larkin suffered from Alzheimer’s and it was extremely hard for everyone to watch her slowly lose all her memories.
Shirley was an amazing woman who had a dream to teach the art of dance to every child who wanted to learn. She knew everyone by name and never turned down a student due to their inability to pay. It is hard to imagine visiting Larkin without her there telling me to say hi to my family for her. Shirley not only taught dance to her students but also how to be hard working and driven. She taught, if you wanted something bad enough you would work your hardest until you accomplished your goal. Mrs. Larkin was a remarkable woman who influenced many lives and is greatly missed.
The dance recital this year was in tribute to Mrs. Larkin and to the legend she has created. There was not a dry eye in the audience with the many heartwarming dances that filled the show including a dance about Alzheimer’s. There was even a white rose in the center front row seat of the audience in honor of her and a moment of silence where her first pair of dance shoes, a pair of white gloves and a black top hat sat on a stool in the middle of the stage. Mrs. Larkin is and will always be greatly missed but her legacy will live on forever. I am proud to be a Larkin dancer and I will always dance the Larkin way!
Until next time,
Samantha Phillippi
(Below enjoy some pictures of me from old dance years)