Page 239 - From the Outhouse 4 -21

239 | P A T R I C I A R A E M E R R I T T W H A T L E Y

We were blessed in that they, too, were dedicated to the concept of Passion = Sacrifice. They enjoyed their tasks
to train the students to be successful, so they worked passionately alongside me.

Passion = Sacrifice

As our enrollment increased, I decided to create a more performance-type setting in my home by having ballet

bars and mirrors installed. I also added a rotating stage with a puppet booth, an organ, and a showcase for artifacts.
Five more instructors became a part of our program, which added: Etiquette and Modeling with Mrs. Sheryl

Moore; Spanish with Mrs. Ingrid Nathan; and three Dance Instructors ‒Demetria Petty Manes, Aurelia Myles,
and Renee Singleton Bell.

Passion = Sacrifice

I remember having no way other than my red convertible Cabriolet to transport students to performances. I

would pile all ten or twelve students into the car. Once when we arrived at a church to do a performance, a man
standing on the church grounds watched the students get out of the car and remarked, “They look like clowns

getting out of a Volkswagen at the circus.” Funny, but not so funny. It was true ‒ my car served as our company

van and even more. One day, while reminiscing with a Tajiri Arts student, she (Sheena Britton) reminded me that
I would ask the boys to get out of the car first, so that the girls could put on their stockings in the parking lot of

our performance venues. Why? What on earth was I thinking ‒ no restrooms?

One day, Dr. Stephen Wright asked me to perform God’s Trombones for Heritage Jubilee. This famous work was

written by James Weldon Johnson who was a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and it consisted of seven Negro
sermons in verse. As part of our concept for the production, I decided to incorporate music and dance, as well.