ART & CULTURE: GINGER FOLMER

This is the first verse of one of Judy Garland’s musical numbers in the legendary movie “A Star is Born,” (Warner Brothers, 1954). As the song goes, she was born for the stage and destined to be an entertainer. Do you know anyone like that? I do.

So too, is the story of our very own, local legend, Ginger Folmer. A woman who literally grew up in a dance studio, Ginger is well known through-out our community (and beyond) as a talented yet humble southern lady. Her family’s dance studio was in their home. The front two rooms were designated the studio and the back two bedrooms, kitchen and bath were home to her, her Aunt Gloria, grandmother, mother, and two uncles. Ginger describes it as “cozy.”

Ginger began her teaching and choreography career at the tender age of 6. Yes, she was 6 years old when her Aunt Gloria, who taught dance, caught Ginger charging the neighborhood kids a nickel a lesson on the sidewalk in front of the studio.

But this was just the beginning of a dance career that has spanned from 1942 until the present time. Taking trips to Los Angeles and New York City beginning at age 9, Ginger and her aunt would take classes with the likes of Ernest Belcher, and Harriet and Al DeRea, and concentrated classes at the Ernest Carlos Studio. Ginger never passed up the opportunity to learn and improve her skills.

She began teaching (legitimately this time) while in high school and has been performing, choreographing, and inspiring other dancers ever since. If you prod her enough, you could sit for hours and listen to stories of her theatrical experiences and adventures on stage. I’ve personally had the opportunity, on many occasions, to witness her career on the stage both sitting in the audience and performing in one of her many shows. I’ve been privileged to have been one of her college students, and to have participated in many of her dance classes. I remain in awe of Ginger Folmer as do so many of this area’s community theatre actors, patrons, and friends.

I am fortunate to be called Ginger’s friend and to have worked with her on and off stage over the years. Her life has been full to say the least and interesting to say the most. It would take all the pages in this issue to adequately chronicle all that Ginger has accomplished. Even though I’ve known her for decades, I feel that Ginger has only shared with me bits and pieces of her life. She has so much more to tell. Fortunately for me and especially our readers, East Bank Theatre, through the generosity of the Bossier Arts Council, is presenting a one-night-only expose of Ginger Folmer.