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A leap of faith

By MELANIE AVE

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 4, 2001


Dyane Joseph's students began preparing for Rosie's Diner in mid-February. As music from 1957 blared from speakers, she told them: "We're going to learn a new dance today." Little did they know they would also get a history lesson. Joseph explained that they were to play the part of young rebels in a story that unfolds in a diner. Cop an attitude, she told them, using their legs, arms and faces. "You've got to be very animated."

Dyane Joseph's students began preparing for Rosie's Diner in mid-February. As music from 1957 blared from speakers, she told them: "We're going to learn a new dance today." Little did they know they would also get a history lesson. Joseph explained that they were to play the part of young rebels in a story that unfolds in a diner. Cop an attitude, she told them, using their legs, arms and faces. "You've got to be very animated."

Four weeks later, when North of Tampa revisited the class, they were moving with confidence, no longer stumbling into each other or forgetting their places. They had learned what a juke box is and what Chuck Berry sounds like. Their mission was to dance for three minutes in a different time and place.

By our third visit on April 5, the attitudes fit as well as the costumes. Spring Production 2001 starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight. For ticket information, see the Out & About column on Page 2or call (813) 991-4343.

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