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Walter’s credentials are also impressive. At age fifteen, she
attended Juilliard School of American Ballet for a year. The
Big Apple captivated her heart, but after a year, her daddy said
to come home. Dixie Darlins at the University of Southern
Mississippi was her next opportunity to showcase her rhythm
and dance.
Law school was on her radar, so she transferred to Ole
Miss to earn a degree in public administration before
entering law school. She’s practiced law for thirty-two years
and is presently the special assistant for Attorney General
Lynn Fitch.
It wasn’t until 2011 that Cassandra got on the ballroom
floor. Through a fundraiser competition in a local “Dancing
with the Stars,” she and John Murphy were chosen as partners.
After six weeks of practice, they performed in the competition
and won. From 2011 to 2019, Cassandra spent every weekday
lunch break practicing ballroom dancing with Murphy.
After Murphy’s death from a surgery complication,
Cassandra and Thomas met, and the dancing continued. She
says, “Ballroom dancing is a life skill that’s going to be lost…
unless we keep teaching it.” Cassandra’s seven nieces and
nephews will carry on the art, thanks to their aunt’s lessons.
Gotham Dance Club is open Monday - Friday from 1pm
to 9pm for private and group lessons. Two times each month
on the first and third Saturday evening from 8pm to 10pm,
students and guests meet at the club for the Practice Party, an
evening of dance and socializing. It serves as a fun experience
to practice newly learned dance steps in a group setting –
and for only $10.
Thomas encourages dancing from a recreational
standpoint – a it’s great alternative to the treadmill! He also
appreciates the New England Medical Journal’s report that
dancing offers physical therapy and that tango dancing has
shown positive results for slowing down Alzheimer’s.
“We promise to make dancing easy and fun,” Thomas
assures. Cassandra adds, “It’s just a joyful art!” If you’re looking
for a fun activity to replace the “moves from the couch to
the refrigerator and back,” call Gotham Dance Club at
845-825-9610 for questions about “dancing with the stars”
– a joy that will be therapeutic!
98 • DECEMBER 2020