Felix, John & Julie
While still in their adolescent years, John and Julie appeared to be dancing their way through life, among glamour, glam, and glitter.
Having established a business in Texas that included their own dancing studios, the Texas couple and their pupils were frequently called upon to perform on stages around the country, competing in national competitions that attracted light-footed competitors from all over the world.
Life, on the other hand, was not always a stroll through the park. "It didn't provide any kind of security," John recalls.
Despite the fact that we enjoyed dancing, if I broke my leg or experienced any other accident, I would be unable to perform. I didn't have time for my wife or my children."
"It was impossible to have any type of home life because of the hours," Julie says. "We'd come to the studio at midday and work until 11 p.m.," says the author.
"There were no residuals," John continues. We'd start the year at zero and conclude the year at zero, just like that. We were exchanging hours for cash, and there seemed to be no end in sight.
In John's words, "the glamour and thrill were what kept us in the dancing business." "Some of the dances were quite elegant.
The men donned tuxedos with white bow ties and tails, while the women wore long, sequined costumes for ballroom dancing.
Costumes for country-western dance, disco dancing, and other styles shone brightly in the spotlights thanks to the use of sequins and feathers. "It was a highly theatrical experience," John adds.
They competed in the USA Ballroom Championships, which were held in Madison Square Garden on a number of occasions.
"We were one of the top ten independent dance studios in the country in terms of the number of students who received first place awards."
However, during the early 1980s recession, the cyclical industry of dancing experienced a downward shift, resulting in "all kinds of hardships," as John recounts.
"We were hoping against hope for something better to happen."
The Felixes then learnt of a marketing firm from one of John's former teachers in June of 1984, just as Julie was about to give birth to the first of their three kids.
Julie was overjoyed because she saw the chance as a means for her to take a break from teaching and spend more time with her husband and their child.
According to John, starting this firm was "like a breath of fresh air, a dream come true." The Felixes currently reside in a magnificent home in Georgetown, Texas, with their three children, Jennifer, Jaclyn, and Jessica, who are all in college.
Their daughter Julie's mother has also joined them and is a tremendous asset in caring for the girls.
"It's an awesome dream come true," John expresses his delight. "We are grateful to God for it."
"We're able to have both time and peace of mind," Julie continues. We had no sense of security when it came to the dance profession.
However, this is a whole different way of living. Everyone comes together and lends a hand to one another.
It's a people-helping-people business that is a win-win situation for everyone involved. Moreover, it only gets better and better!"
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