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"The Gathering"
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I was part of the original group that brought Burch out of retirement to teach (along with Don Zema, Judy Zema, Monica Zema, my brother Ed Kerry and another female that escapes me). The way this happened was that Don, Ed, Judy, Monica and I were part of Michael and Nancy Mann's dance studio in El Monte, CA. and when Michael and Nancy were ready to get back on the road, Michael selected seven students that he thought had enough talent that they should never quit dancing. He told us of his sister Burch, that she was retired and writing but she also taught a dance class once a week for disadvantaged black kids. He suggested that if we all went to that class faithfully Burch would never turn us away. Therefore, once a week we all piled into Don's father's vehicle and made the trip into Los Angeles for that class. We followed Michael's advice and faithfully attended, so that when Burch taught her last class to these disadvantaged kids, she was still stuck with us.
She rented the second floor of a building over a motel in Monterey Park and when the studio outgrew that facility she was forced to relocate. She purchased a long term lease to another building on Main St. in Alhambra, hired Nicolas Tarnowsky as ballet master and Burch was back in business for certain.
I taught for Burch and continued my classes, put on shows for her and was the dance partner of her daughter, San. I was also the envy of all the other guys because everyone loved San.
Burch had the most profound influence on my life of anyone who has ever been in my life. She was wise, loving and always feminine. Her sister "T" was nearly a clone and so loved Burch that she gave up years of her own life to help her.
My name is Jim Kelly...
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