Featured Dancer: Anthony Galloway

Anthony Galloway is a LEGACY dancer and a production member. As a production member, he is taking on the major video work that is being done for the show. Also, he is helping design and build the set for the shows this year.
Anthony is someone I respect for his simplicity and his work ethic. Ever since I've known Anthony, I've gotten to know more about him and the more I know, the more I appreciate him even more. He is one of the most imaginative/animated people I've worked with. He's got so many ideas and creativity running through his head much of the time, especially when we have production meetings that involve creation.

I was having a conversation over the phone with Anthony a while back about my aspirations for what I wanted LEGACY to be and to represent. 
He said to me: 







"Man, I love listening to you dream"

 That line really hit a cord because Anthony is the type of person who has ideas and tries to make them happen. I admire that in people because it’s one thing to say “I’d like” and another to get it done.  

I am so proud to work with Anthony. We made our "dreams" a reality nine years ago and we continue to do so today.

-LC

Anthony on the 2011 LEGACY Logo

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Well, Hello World!  My name is Anthony Galloway and I am a dancer/production team member of LEGACY!  It is truly a blessing to work with Luis and the wonderful cast and crew of the show!  But thats the legacy of Michael, in whatever way possible, help those around you.  to borrow from the song, "Who am I to be Blind, pretending not to see their needs."  This show raises funds to support the creative development of kids, bring together many styles of dance to beautiful synergy, and in my case, seeing me through one of the hardest times in my life.

At the auditions last year, I was severely out of shape, hadn't really danced since being in Luis's High School Michael productions, and was just starting out in my professional career in education.  I was an out of shape, 225lb old guy (compared to the cast) who clearly had work to do.  On top of it all, my wife and I found out mid rehearsal schedule that we were expecting our first child.  The ingredients didn't seem to be adding up for me.  But I went for it...and got in!

With a great cast, great choreography, and lots of patience, I began to shed pounds and keep up with the 18-23 year olds in the show.  Theres just something about MJ that makes you want to be better than you are.



Then, as my wife went into early labor requiring surgery to save the pregnancy; 7 weeks of bedrest; going down to a 1 income household; a daughter born 3 months early at 1.5lbs; my world began to unravel quickly.  Legacy rehearsal became one of the few things fueling me through one of the hardest times of my life.  I never really let it show, but the end of rehearsal was the hardest part because i had to go back to the uphill sprint my life was becoming.  

The beauty, however, was that the show became one of the few things in my life that was actually getting better.  You know, life has a funny way of giving you what you need at the right time.  because as I started to show some real talent in rehearsal;  as the dances became easier; and I began to get lighter, faster, stronger....and so did my daughter!


Each week she out performed the doctors expectations and I found myself fighting alongside her gaining strength with each passing battle.  By showtime, both my daughter, and my life, were out of the danger zone.  The shows were amazing, I lost 57lbs,  and 1 month later my daughter came home after 101 days in the neonatal intensive care unit a healthy 6.5lb baby girl with no complications.  

This show is about so much more than rembembering Michael.  It truly inspires a creative legacy that makes you want to be a better you.  reflect on the good in life and heal by reaching out to that man or woman in the mirror and saying, "keep going."

Thats why I chose to join the production team this year in addition to auditioning to dance.  The way I see it, the work kept me going through the low times and I better contribute in the good times.  So as this process gets underway, I hope to contribute something, either on the stage or behind the scenes, that can help someone else face the low; so they can pay it forward too.  Thats one of Michael's legacies, and I think this production lives up to its name.  That being said...let the work begin!


-Anthony Galloway