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| SouthernStar amateur dancers with coach Alan Tuggey, Atlanta Open 1994 |
Alan Tuggey: A Dancer and a Gentleman
We are saddened by the loss of Alan Tuggey, but blessed to
have known him as a dear friend, a truly gentle man, and a devoted dance coach.
When Richard and I first met Alan in 1990, he immediately came to our rescue.
We were practicing and he was teaching a group class at the USF Dance
Department, and when we stupidly locked ourselves out of the studio where we
were rehearsing, he took the time to help us get back in using his key.
We were so taken with his kindly demeanor, courteous
attitude, and charming British manners – not to mention his expertise in
International Standard – that we asked him to coach us. He became not only our
coach, but a close friend who encouraged us and gave us moral support. He
prepared us for our first International Standard competition at Ohio Star Ball,
which was quite a challenge because his studio had a small floor, making the
floor at Ohio seem like a football field by comparison!
When we were asked to be the only amateur couple
performing with the U.S. Professional American Style Tour and Team Match in
Russia in 1992, Alan rose to the occasion to help us improve our theatrical
dance to “Rhapsody in Blue.” What he lacked in specific adagio training he made
up for in knowledge of dance fundamentals and in overall enthusiasm.
One day we were trying to do an overhead bird, and Alan
advised me to run at Richard with great speed to gain momentum. In the heat of
the moment, I unfortunately forgot that all lifts must go up, translating
horizontal momentum into vertical thrust, and I plowed into Richard and Alan
(who was standing behind him to spot) with all the power and grace of a football
tackle, knocking both men to the ground! Thankfully, no one was hurt, and we all shared
a good laugh over that mishap for many weeks to come!
Despite the many long hours Alan spent coaching us the
last 2 weeks before we left for Russia, he refused to accept payment for those
hours, saying with a gracious smile that he was doing his part to improve
international relations!
On the day that we closed on the purchase of the building
at 12101 N. 56th Street in Temple Terrace, FL, that would become
Rhapsody Ballroom, Alan agreed to teach us there even though the long, tedious
process of renovations had not yet begun. So Richard tore out a 6-foot square
of worn-out carpet, and Alan coached us on Latin Rumba on the bare cement, much
to the detriment of everyone’s shoes and feet! And we all worked up a sweat
since the air conditioning wasn’t working and it was a hot summer day in Florida!
Once the Rhapsody Ballroom was up and running, it seemed
to attract many dedicated and enthusiastic amateur competitors, due in large
part to Alan’s coaching and encouragement of dancers at all levels. He would
often travel at his own expense to competitions that his students had entered
so that he could cheer us on and give us a blow-by-blow description of our strengths
and weaknesses in the heat of battle.
Although he taught less in later years due to failing health, he staunchly supported amateur
competitions, not only with his attendance, but by donating scholarship money
and by judging and scrutineering in the days when all the tabulation was done
by hand. I used to feel so sorry for Alan stuck at the scrutineer’s table all
day, poring over the judges’ sheets without even being able to look up at the
dancing he loved so much!
Alan was a true gentleman, friend, and encourager who
always had a kind word and often a helpful bit of advice for amateur dancers,
whether or not they were his students. He touched the lives of many dancers who
are better for having known him, and he will be sorely missed.
Photo, left to right: Mike Johnston, Peg Johnston, Greg Burns, Sarah Coates, Alan Tuggey, Laurie Collett, Richard Collett
