Re-Founding Article Written by: Steve Booth

I was originally recruited in 1996 by Berta Lull to be the Emcee for the NLLD Annual Star Awards Induction Weekend, and from there was increasingly involved with the planning of the Saturday night Induction ceremony. With my marriage to Janis Grimes in 1999, she also became involved with the event wherever and whenever needed. The overall details of the planning of the event were ALWAYS decided by Berta, and major decisions were hers. During the last 10 years of the original Legends event, Cindy (NLLD 2011) and Larry Black (NLLD 2015) became increasingly involved in planning, photography, printing of the programs and event flow. A constant presence in all of this was our beloved Irishman Bill Stephens, Berta’s forever love and support in every way.

In early 2020 Bill Stephens contacted me on behalf of Berta and asked if I would be interested in taking over the NLLD, as I had a 20-plus year track record as Emcee and was closely identified with the event, as was Janis. At the time my siblings and I were caring day-to-day for my 95-year-old mother, who was disabled by strokes, and I had to decline. As the event had been successfully staged in 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel on Pavilion Drive in Virginia Beach, Bill and Berta were planning for the 2020 event. Berta had always dealt with the very professional and reliable event planner Mark Hoshak (from the original Little Creek Amphibious Base and HiIton Doubletree venues) who was now at the Virginia Beach Town Center Westin Hotel. Bill, Janis and I met with the Westin staff, and the dates we needed (and the cost and parking) were problematic, so we declined their quote. Then the Covid-19 pandemic took over, and the event was cancelled for 2020 and 2021. 2022 saw a sharp decline in Berta’s health situation, and she passed away on Dec. 22, 2022. During this time (and even earlier) several NLLD devotees - most notably Cindy Black - had mentioned to Janis and me that they wanted the event to continue and to be kept alive. These sentiments continued from numerous quarters through 2022 and into 2023.

In early 2023 Betty Ladwig (NLLD 1999) called Janis (NLLD 2002) and urged again a re-start of Legends. Shortly thereafter, Cindy Black called Janis with the same very strong sentiments.

In April of 2023, Janis and I went to Visions (home of the Richmond Shag Club) for Tuesday night dancing and camaraderie. We were a bit early, and we struck up conversations with Sid Strawderman (NLLD 2010) and Jane Renger. Sid – a successful builder and developer - talked about how he was retiring and would have time on his hands, so how about re-starting Legends, as he had been interested in this for some time and had also been making inquiries. I turned him over to Janis, and also recommended that Cindy Black be included with her depth of experience with the original Legends event and Virginia Beach contacts. Sid contacted Cindy and she was subsequently able to contact Bob Lull (Berta’s son) to see if he or – any of the family - would have any objections to a re-Founding of the organization. He was enthusiastic about the organization going forward and gave his blessing. Cindy promptly recruited Joey Cecio (NLLD 2015) to be a re-Founder. With a career as a chief financial officer he was perfectly positioned to handle finances and tax planning. With the four (Janis, Cindy, Sid and Joey) re-Founders in place, Sid had the corporation re-established in June 2023, appointing Cindy as President, Janis as Secretary, Joey as Treasurer and himself as Vice –President and Registered Agent. With a rock solid slate of officers, an advisory committee consisting of Paul Woodard (last surviving original NLLD class member, 1994), Rodger Woodson (NLLD 2000), and Jim Hern (NLLD 2010) was added. After Paul’s passing in August 2023, Betty Ladwig (NLLD 1999) joined the advisory committee.

After Berta’s passing in December 2022, all records, corporate documents and mailing lists were lost in the process of the sale and clearing out of her residence, so the re-Founders were starting with a clean slate. Through Cindy’s immediate efforts, a new venue was established at the Wyndham North Hotel on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Through the tireless work of Cindy, Betty, Janis and others, the new NLLD rapidly gained an expanded web presence, which is constantly being enhanced. The word quickly spread and the new National Living Legends of Dance® held its inaugural event in November 2023 with a full slate of Shag, Swing and DC Hand Dance workshops and lessons, the beautiful “Hangar Party” dance floor and myself, Steve Booth (NLLD 2002), back at the Emcee’s mic for one last Star Awards weekend with a backdrop of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.

Legends Forever!!