Skippy Blair - A Life of Remembrance

Skippy Blair (March 15, 1924 - June 30, 2021)
Friend, Mentor, Life Coach, Poet, Author, Songwriter, Singer, Dancer, “Yoda of West Coast Swing”, “Teacher of Teachers”, Co-creator of the World Swing Dance Council, Creator of “The Universal Unit System”® Sheet Music for Dancers, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother.
Skippy has deeply touched many of our lives. Her dedication to the art, education and each person’s growth in dance and beyond was unwavering.
Skippy Blair trained champion dancers and teachers for over seventy years. She was the founder of the Golden State Dance Teachers Association® and co-founded the World Swing Dance Council. She has written seven dance text books - including Disco to Tango & Back (now a collector’s item), Dance Power, and The Dance Terminology Notebook. She is the developer of the Universal Unit System® and Dance Dynamics® and has been involved in the prestigious US Open (teaching, judging, and evaluating) since the very first US Open Event.
Known as the Teacher of Teachers, Skippy has a long list of certified graduates who teach Skippy’s Unit System, including such Swing notables as: Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollmann, Wayne and Sharlot Bott, Mary Ann Nunez, Jessica Cox, Gary Jobst - plus thousands of teachers who have graduated from the program and use the system to reinforce their own teaching and judging skills. Skippy taught dance for many years in public schools and universities all over the country. Today many of her GSDTA certified teachers have taken over those projects.
Skippy began her dance career teaching tap dancing at the age of thirteen. For twelve years, she was a choreographer and dancer on TV with the Al Jarvis “Let’s Dance Show”; Bob Barker’s Truth or Consequences; Barker’s Varieties; and Kastles in the Air. She also appeared with Larry Kern in the movies “Queen of the Stardust Ballroom” and “Tales of the Hollywood Hills.”
Awards & Accomplishments:
1963 - Founded the Golden State Dance Teachers Association®
1978 - American Dancers Hall Of Fame Award from Terpsichore
1981 - Ph.D. in Philosophy from Golden State University, Glendale, CA
1989 - Rebels Club “Legends of Swing” Award from Kenny Wetzel
1991 - California Swing Dance Hall of Fame recognition
1992 - “Feather Award” Recipient - as the person who most influenced couples dancing” in the YOU.
1993 - Co-Founded the “World Swing Dance Council”
1993 - The prestigious US Open “Humanitarian Award” from Jack and Mary Ann Bridges
1994 - National Swing Dance Hall of Fame Inductee
1996 - California Swing Dance Hall of Fame Gold Medal Award
2004 - Voted USA Swing Dance Network “Person of the Year”
Skippy's website - www.swingworld.com
#skippyblair #westcoastswing #rollingcount #universalunitsystem

[@Claudia01856]

Thank you for sharing about such a beautiful person in many ways of life, everything will be forever in the memory and in the hearts of everyone who knew her and admire her work ! Wonderful! Congratulations!!!!!

[@janetdiaz9937]

Thank you for sharing memories of our wonderful Skippy!

[@timallman9592]

Skippy was like so many " My Teacher" ............. In the four or five Intensives I attended, there was always something to learn about dance, Life, Love, and Hope. I shall never forget her or this remarkable video you put together. Thanks Yall............... I love it

[@JohnKunkleAuctioneer]

A very well assembled video that captures the essence of a life well lived! Extraordinary!

[@deborahbaca1345]

So many familiar dancing faces. Sweet tribute. Thank you for sharing how one person's joy for WCS contributed to so many.. 🌳LOA