Christine Miller Memoir Essay

Introduction

This memoir narrative expresses the experience of Christine Miller during her young days when she was a shagu dancer. Christine expresses her interactions with other dancers especially Beryl whom she found to be interesting in both dancing and also her approach to life. Christine shows how racial dynamics in the society shaped her interactions with other people and what she was able to learn through her interaction with Beryl and her other dancing mates.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Dancing with Beryl

Christine Miller has been involved in different aspects of the society, and the most exciting aspect of participation in the society is through dancing. Christine began dancing in 1952 and had met Beryl through mutual friends. Christine was introduced to the dancing stage by an American traveler who had traveled to experience the Dimanche Gras carnival. The environment was appealing and took place under a thatched roof whereas those that played drums were seated under a tree. Christine started dancing with Beryl during the march of dines in California. Upon approaching Beryl, she agreed to Christine's proposal to make a choreography of a dance they were to dance. Christine greatly enjoyed dancing with Beryl, and she used to go dancing three to four times a week which indicates her dedication to dancing.

Christine and Beryl loved shangu dance, and they both regretted not have known about the dance earlier. Other dances that Christine and Beryl were involved in include Cleo dancing and she had been through the mainland and the islands where she learned about shangu and ubia dance which gave Christine and Beryl much more exposure in dancing. What Beryl learn in the islands and the mainland were incorporated in their dance with Beryl which made the dance even more exciting for Christine. When Beryl asked Christine to join her in the carnival dance show on a Sunday night, and Christine was very excited which shows her love and admiration of dancing.

At the Carnival dance, Christine was introduced to a tall and handsome black man who was also a dancer, and he was to accompany her to the dance that night. Upon reaching home, Christine informed her stepmother regarding her participation in the carnival dance, and she said she was fine with the idea as long as she wanted to do it. However, her stepmother voiced her negative sentiments about Christine's participation especially because she was to be picked up from home by a black man which her mother termed as being careless. Her stepmother further voiced her concern that her father's friend will think that her parents are careless also for allowing her to go out with black men. From her step mother's point of view, Beryl would taint their reputation by doing unacceptable things that were against the social order. The talk with her stepmother made Christine change her mind about participating in the carnival dance. Beryl was disappointed by Christine's bailing out, but she understood her reasons. During her dancing episode with Beryl, she was able to make friends with the people in the group, but their relationships were largely restricted based on racial differences.

During her dancing days, Christine met with John Humprey and his sister Dionese. John was in love with Christine, but their relationship was not going to happen because of their racial differences. Dionese hated Christine because she thought that Christine was the source of her brothers suffering. Although Christine loved John as a person, she could not engage with him in an intimate relationship. While dancing shagu, Christine met some people such as Beryl, John, and his sister but their relationship was limited to only dancing, and after their dancing sessions everybody was to go home. However, sometimes they would go together to a cafe after which they would go on their own way. In the group, Christine was referred to as an outsider because of her race and ethnic background which was a significant barrier towards creating meaningful long-term friendships that went beyond dancing and going to the cafe.

Christine loved dancing and whenever she could hear some music she could think of dancing. She notes that Beryl was unique and had a good personality but what made her even more appealing was that she was fearless. Beryl was sophisticated as a person, but she had traveled a lot to learn dancing. Beryl was aware of the social stratification in the community, but she understood the situation, and she was never bitter which indicates that she was a dynamic and a nice person. Beryl had developed her fearless nature from what Christine recall because she used to be a beggar and she had to beg for everything in her life. Beryl was very fearless because she could approach even strangers and ask for anything she wanted. Beryl was able to approach strangers and ask for a lift, and she knew what she wanted and how to go about it. Her fearless nature made her powerful and unique. Beryl was able to appreciate her friends for helping her out, and she could give awards to everyone who had supported her. During the event that Beryl appreciated her friends, Christine was with Ian at the event who married her later. Beryl loved black and she was very generous and loved making new friends. Christine did not like Beryl's house background because it was all black but she was able to notice the uniqueness of Beryl's house.

Christine terms the period of interaction with Beryl and her friends as unique and enriching, and it came to an end when she got married. Christine believes that Beryl could have improved the background if she had painted black on different materials and texture such as flat black, shiny black and other variations which could make the background richer in color. However, Christine raises her concern that it is boring to use a single color to paint the background. However, Beryl according to Christine used different materials and textures to beautify her house which made it more exciting and beautiful. Using different approaches of beautification in art adds a different dimension and makes a place even more interesting. Christine has always been bold enough to tell people what she thinks since when she was young. Christine notes that she gives her point of view int of about everything she sees which has built her reputation as an honest person. Although she does not go looking out to identify the nature of other people's painting and house designs she notes that it is in her character to comment on the level of the quality of the painting.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Christine interaction with Beryl and other people significantly shaped her love for dancing and art. Christine was also able to learn from her friends and also significantly contributed to their well-being. However, Christine notes that she pitied John whom she liked but could not be in love with him based on his racial background. Christine notes that Dionese who was John's sister didn't like her because she was causing misery on her brother. Further, through this memoir, we learn the straightforward character of Christine and her love for dancing and art.