"Here's looking at you kid".....

Attending a quinceañera on Saturday night August 30th
(this is the Latin equivalent to a sweet 16 party, only held at age 15)

Dakota traveled to Toms River branch with a couple of youth to celebrate!!

gratitude thought: Good clean fun and having to be a teen only once in life (-:þ

Jewel's swim lessons!

The YMCA where Jewel takes swim lessons has 'Olympic fever' due to the great swimmer Michael Phelps. So for the last day of swim in the summer session, they had mini Olympics. Jewel did relay races and individual races in freestyle and the backstroke. She's holding her little 1st place ribbon...she's fast for a little thing. (age 8 1/2, 55 pounds, 4'3')

Our summer coming to a close...

Daniel returned from his second 2 week stay in San Fransisco to get ready for his first YW camp ever. Patricia went first staying three days, and Daniel went on Thursday for Bishopric races, evening program and testimony meeting. The YW dressed him up as a fairy and they won the best costume award along with a scripture mastery award.
For Stephanie and Christian Nielson...ward members met at a local school and launched ballons for you on Saturday August 23rd at 8:00 pm. (EST) The Nielsons lived in our ward three years ago and were in a plane crash last Saturday. They are recovering in Arizona while relatives care for their four children. http://cjanerun.com/ (website to follow their recovery)

Sending our prayers and get well wishes to the Nielsons.

A family afternoon bike ride on a gorgeous sunny 80 degree day in August!!

gratitude thought: The gift of life!

THE Judith Jamison

O-K, Pat really wishes the photo of her came out better, but it's with Judy so who cares?? Judith Jamison, who in additon to being a major star and fantastic dancer, has taken the Alvin Ailey company to such great heights. Simply an amazing job. Poor awestruck Patricia kept addresing her as 'Ms. Jamison' so Judy had to almost slap Patricia back to reality by screaming at her ' Pat, stop it, this is me Judy' Guess Pat's really been away from this world for so long, she's forgotten how to act!

As the two dancers are almost the same height, poor 19 year old, skinny, shy Patricia stepped into some of her roles. Wade in the Water, The Mooche were two of the first things learned from Judy. She taught about listening to music notes, and how to dance trying to capture an audience. Poor Patricia tried so hard that she fell flat on her face during rehearsal at the Minskoff Broadway theatre while learning the piece that made Judy famous 'Cry'. (Cry was a 15 minute solo created by Alvin as a birthday present to his mother)

When Patricia got up from the floor, she felt like crying!! Patricia went on to dance Cry, and it became one of her favorite pieces.

Patricia was so happy that her mom, brother, Dakota and Jewel were able to attend along with church members Virginia and Kaye. Patricia has waited a long time to explain this past life to her kids and now they get it. They asked to make an Alvin Ailey annual December performance as part of the family tradition.

Alvin Ailey 50th Alumni Anniversary August 8th-9th

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre founded in 1958,
celebrated it's 50th Anniversary by inviting and combining the alumni dancers with present dancers for a weekend of dinner, performances, and a gala party. Pat Dingle-Killpack had the time of her life, seeing dance buddies, choreographers, and people who've made history in the dance world. Just to be a part of this was a joy. Patricia may even decide to take a dance class again....after marriage, kids and schooling, this passion has fallen by the wayside. It will be interesting and rather funny to take beginner ballet class at the age of 50. (hee-hee-) Pat may cry just like little kids when learning hard movement. Posters of dancers, who Patricia knew and worked with.
In addition to bringing her kids, mom and brother, two church members came.

Patricia, Ralph and Mable. Ralph created a birthday collage for Patricia for her birthday when performing in Canne, South of France. She had turned 23.

Alvin Ailey 50th Anniversary cont....

Patricia in between Shirley Black-Brown and Nasha Thomas.
Both were beautiful and dynamic dancers. Shirley still can make anyone laugh!
Patricia standing outside of the Ailey 'home' theatre City Center. It felt like a second home walking and sitting inside this theatre. MANY hours of Patricia's life was spent inside this theatre, more time here than in her apartment. Patricia doing the 'Alvin Ailey' arms, one of his favorites.
Patricia with one of her first ballet teachers at the Ailey school, Tom Stevens.
THE famous dance star Judith Jamison. When Alvin died, he made Judy the director of the company. Mazazumi Chaya, another dancer, is the associate director. He use to help Patricia do her hair for Talley Beatty's piece "The Stack Up" and break in her high heels for Alvin's ballet 'Blues Suite'. Same size feet and Patricia was most grateful for broken in shoes to perform pain free in.

Another major star in the dance world, Donna Wood.

Alvin Ailey dancers cont....

The alumni dinner was held in the new 15 million dollar 'Ailey' school on 55th and 9th avenue. For Patricia this was a long way from the humble beginings where the older dancers use to take class and rehearse, in an old church building on the east side. Dancers April, Sylvia Waters (director of Aiely 2 junior company for 30 years), Dolores Browne (scholarship director when Patricia was 15) and former dancer, Charles Epps, known to us as Chuckie, who had amazing legs and extension!
Getting together to take the 50th Anniversary photo with dancers past and present. Ralph (before Ailey he did the Broadway show "A Chorus Line") with Lenny Meeks. Lenny had his own company and choreographed many pieces before auditioning for the Ailey company.
Judy Jamison (center) surrounded by present dancers.

The former rehearsal director Mary Barnett with two dancers from 1978, Peter Wooden and Pat Dingle.