<Begin Segment 30>

SY: Did she ever say anything to you, so that you knew she was supportive or that, say anything of -- to encourage you to look at dance as a profession?

MN: No. She just, she just liked what I did. And she let me teach some of her children's classes and her ladies' classes. And of course, I, I was in a position to make costumes for her, because I had started college as a textile major. So I made most of her costumes for her. (...) I was a big help to her (...).

SY: I guess you were so much of a big help that she actually eventually entrusted you to teach and operate her dance school while she was away on trips to New York. Why do you think she entrusted you with her dance school and students?

MN: Well, it's because there wasn't anybody else studying with her that, that she felt they could do it. And they were busy going to school or they had families to take care of and so I was a logical person to ask.

SY: But you were busy going to school and had family to take care of, too.

MN: Well, (...) but then, I had a half a day. (...) Classes usually met in the evenings around six o'clock or so, or 6:30 or 7:30. So I was able to get away from the florist shop and, and it wasn't exactly every day. It was, I think it was Monday, Thursday, and Saturday that I taught. And she had a couple of cats, too, that I fed.

<End Segment 30> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.