Miss Sylvia Page ( 1950s )
The name Elma Moore Booker may not be familiar to many, but this lady holds a special place in local history. Elma Moore Booker was the first woman of color to own and operate her own dance studio in New Orleans. She was also the first woman of color to obtain a State of Louisiana dancing teacher’s certificate. In 1934, she completed training from the Mildred Kohlman Studio of Dance, an award-winning studio (for whites only) located in uptown New Orleans.
Dance School Certificate (1934)
This information was accidentally discovered while researching at Amistad Research Center on the campus of Tulane University. From the late 1920s through the 1970s, Elma taught a host of students. Her dance recital of 1934 was the first of many shows to receive praise from local audiences and newspapers for the talent and skills of her various young performers. In the collection are the names of students (but no photos) who enrolled in dance classes in the 1930s.
[ 1933-1935 Dance Revue Students ]
Eunice Andry, Bessie Baptiste, Betty Braden, Roxlyn Brown, Phyllis Charbonnet, Dorothy Coignet, Elodie Santa Cruz, Ella Louise Davis, Dorothy Durald, Merlyn Forte, Ruby G——-, Larnie Hithe, Floyd & Grace Jack, Selma Joseph, Doris Justin, Ruby Mae Labat, Shirley Ladmirault, Yoland LeBlanc, Lorraine Lumas, Santa Marie Marquez, Ella Mae & Warren Metoyer, Delores Nash, Zelida Pierson, Lillie Mae Robinson, Shirley Rose, Dorothy & Juanita Signal, Geraldine Taylor, Rowena Wagner, Rose Marie Walker, Marion Watts, Helen Williams, Margaret Wiltz.
Unfortunately, the collection does not have any information (names or photos) of students who attended classes during the 1940s. If anyone is aware of pupils who were enrolled during this decade, please send their names so they can be added to the list. The photo below from the December 1940 edition of The Louisiana Weekly is the only image found so far.
A Christmas dance performance held at the Isabelle Hume Community Center Auditorium on December 20, 1940. Students were from Mrs. Booker’s Hume Center Dancing Class and her private studio .
By the 1950s, students’ names and some dance revue photographs are captured in Mrs. Booker’s collection. Those names are listed below.
Adam Haydel Jr. & Cecilia Haydel (1950s)
1950s Dance Revue Students
Sandra Adams, Ursula Arceneaux, Arthe & Vergie & Bettie Armstrong, JoAnn Ash, Yolande Bates, Sharon Batiste, Dianne Battiste, JoAnn Benson, Rosalind Brignac, Urania Brown, Evan Calpurnia, Lois Camel, Alvin & Alvinette Chapital, Debra Chapman, Sylvia Copper, Alberta & Deidre Daville, Christine Davis, Minenda Debose, Louis Drummond, Diane Duvernay, Betsy Francois, Paula Gagnier, Josephine Gaines, Elaine Gaspard, Denise Gonzalez, Sarah Jane Hall, Marva Harper, Cecilia & Adam Jr. Haydel, Doris & Janice Hewitt, Jacqueline Hurley, Ramona Jean, Alicia Johnson, Lynn & Brenda & Emma Jones, Bernadette Joseph, Eileen Julien, Jeannette Lacey, Glenda Lacross, Louise Lloyd, Wanda & Dionne Lombard, Yvonne & Jacqueline Londro, Diane Martin, Gertrude Mather, Sheila McLaughlin, Sonja Mc Royal, Marion Moore, Gwendolyn & Elaine Morris, Bernadette & Jeannette Narcisse, Steve& O’Neal Narcisse, Dwight & Reginald Ott, Laverne & Jennifer Priestley, Merle Ramsey, Janice Richards, JoAnn Russell, Joyce Surtain, Cecilia Taplette, Diane Temple, Sandra Tratt, Denise & Jennifer Walter, Cheryl & Dwayne Webster, Victoria & Janice Williams, Peggy Willis.
[Please send corrections of misspelled students’ names to our comment section.]
Mrs. Elma Moore Booker (Instructor)
The collection also contains Elma Moore Booker’s extensive record of dance steps and exercises for tap, ballet, acrobatics, hula, clog, ballroom and square dancing. Also included is a prayer book of novenas and a pair of black patent-leather tap shoes.
As an instructor, Mrs. Booker was known as a strict disciplinarian who tempered her instruction with kindness and encouragement. She always emphasized positive images of her students and sought to instill self-confidence and a true sense of accomplishment. She was known to often tell her students the following:
Betty, Arthe, & Virgie Armstrong (1950s)
“Dancing is first and foremost a healthful exercise. It is pleasure and it is an art that brings to the front: courtesy, ease of manner, grace of body and happiness of mind. It is for us to set this standard.”
“A graceful child is one who has poise achieved through practice of muscle control and balance.”
Eileen Marie Julien (1957)
Elma Moore was one of several children born to Marie Kinler Moore and Frank Moore lll. She was an excellent dancer from an early age and, as a student, received an invitation to dance professionally in the movies. Unfortunately, her father refused her desire to go to Hollywood because he felt Elma would be exploited in such an environment. For this reason, Elma remained in New Orleans and chose to extend her knowledge of dancing to others.
Miss Elma Moore (early years)
After nearly fifty years of teaching, Elma Moore Booker retired. She passed away on April 8, 1998 and was buried from Saint Raymond Catholic Church and interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Orleans. She left behind no children but she did leave behind a group of very talented nephews and a niece which included the musically talented Deacon John Moore, Charles Moore, and scholar, writer & Creole linguist, Dr. Consuela Moore (also known as Sybil Kein).
What an artistic family!!
Sources: Amistad Research Center, Tulane University campus, The Elma Moore Booker Collection; The Louisiana Weekly, December 21, 1940 p.3
Lolita V. Cherrie
Amazing. She was phenomenal.
Thank you for sharing this.
Enjoyed this wonderful story of this talented lady and so successful. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this.
Mrs. Booker was my sister, Lorraine Braud Hill’s Godmother… and gave a few dance lessons to her….
I can hear her now, pushing us, challenging us, believing in us …
Another strong black woman
Miss Sylvia Page (Wilson) is our sister. So proud of her then and now. Lolita, thanks for sharing this article as it explains this picture of Sylvia which has been in our family for decades. And, what an inspirational and powerful woman in the presence of Elma Moore Booker. Wow, what a difference and impact she has made in so many lives.
Loved this story on the Elma Moore Booker School of Dance.
A great talent and contributor to our history and culture.
Bravo to all CREOLEGEN researchers for the stories you delve into, publish and share.
Mrs. Booker and her husband were my Godparents. I can still do a few of the tap dance steps she taught me.
I was Mrs. Booker’s student in 1974 inspired by her at the age of 3. I still have my picture In the tap costume. I have always remembered her face! I continued to dance throughout my life attending NOCCA earning BFA from Texas Christian University and returned home to join Luka Elzy Dance Theater. In my three year old mind I was Mrs. Booker’s only student! Much love and admiration!
I would be remiss to not mention also being taught by Syrell August Daniel, another New Orleanian dance teacher who was dearly loved by a generation of students.
Mrs Booker taught my oldest daughter, Tyra Valteau Sorapuru.
When I would bring Tyra for class, Crystal would pay attention to every step Mrs. Booker would teach. She did so well that Mrs. Booker taught Crystal at the age of three years old . This was the beginning of
Crystal’s passion for dance. Crystal worked at The Ellis Marsalis Center as the Dance Instructor for several years . I had love and admiration for Mrs. Booker. She was very beautiful and friendly. Later in life I would see her at bingo and she would show me that she could still raise her leg above the table . She was a Beautiful Southern Creole Queen .❤️
What a beautiful tribute to a great teacher !! Thank you, Brenda for sending us your comments. (Lolita)
Thank you staff, for another inspiring article.
Mrs Booker was my neighbor and she was my dance teacher in the late 70″s. I never knew her story, I just knew that she was an excellent dancer and she had a mysterious dance past that was one of greatness. She didn’t talk about it, but she was still moving beautifully. We had small classes 2-3 at a time. I am so excited to learn this about her.