Graham, the Performer

As a child growing up in a small tobacco town in South Carolina, Graham’s parents introduced him to dance. “Mom and Dad were wonderful ballroom dancers.” Graham says. “My Dad was quite a showman in his own right and I am very much like my Dad—although there are those who would dispute that statement.” Graham clarifies: “I can ‘feel’ the resemblance more than I can see it.”

Graham’s parents enrolled him with a local dance instructor who taught classes one day a week. “Grange Hall had a stage and a piano player, and that was it.” Graham says. “A lot of kids cried and ran off stage, but I stayed right there and did every step they asked for.”

Later Graham heard his mother tell his father, “We may have made a mistake,” in regards to taking him to dance class, “because from that moment on it was plain to see that I was a performer,” Graham says.

After his grass roots beginning, Graham never turned back. He made his way to New York City where he says he was one of the “Dance Gypsies,” performing on Broadway in at least 15 shows and choreographing three others.

Graham studied dance styles under some the industry’s greats of the day including jazz with Luigi, Gus Giordano and Matt Maddox and tap with Henry Le Tang, Bob Audy and Danny Hoctor of Dance Caravan. Eventually, Danny and Betty Hoctor hired Graham as part of Dance Caravan, a touring dance convention and competition, where he traveled all over the world. Working together for 25 years the Hoctors and Graham became best friends, mentors and protégés.

“Dancing is not just a profession to Mallory, it is his life,” says Meg Cashion, Emergency Room Manager at High Point Regional Hospital and a current student of Graham’s.

Already a piano and organ player for the Southern churches, Graham attended The Julliard School of Music while in New York to study conducting. Being a dancer, Graham wanted “to better understand the music.” He still plays piano for peace of mind and its soothing quality.

In the mid-70s, Graham was contacted by Pat Hall, builder of the then-new Carowinds theme park near Charlotte. Hall hired Graham to produce, direct and choreograph “The Magic Theatre” and “Harmony Hall.” Graham staffed the show with dancers from Ray Hollingworth’s studio in Virginia and was subsequently asked to join Hollingworth’s H&H Dance Troupe as a convention teacher in cities across the U.S.

It was an H&H convention in Myrtle Beach that fatefully brought Graham together with the late Jacqueline Dorminy, then-president of the Professional Dance Teachers Association and owner of Dorminy Dance Studios in Winston-Salem. “Ms. Dorminy gave me a huge introduction at the convention, during which she called me Mr. Graham Mallory,” he says. “If I had known then what I know now [about Ms. Dorminy], I would have just changed my name.”

During Graham’s presentation he mentioned that he wanted to teach dance. “Later, when I spoke to Ms. Dorminy she said, ‘You will teach for me!’ as only Jacqueline Dorminy could say it,” Graham says. “Little did I know the impact this little lady from Winston-Salem would have on my life.”

Graham, the Teacher

Graham moved to Winston-Salem where he says Dorminy made room for him in her studio, her home and her life. And he has been there ever since—now 35 years.

“Ms. Dorminy taught me to teach; I learned more and more from her each day,” Graham says, noting they were very much alike. “We were fast friends, and as friends we often disagreed. But the storms blew over quickly—as quickly as we could arrange it so she could have it her way!” Graham laughs.

Through Dorminy, Graham grew to love and respect another renowned Winston-Salem and Clemmons dance teacher, Judy Baylin, founder of Baylin Studios and partner and daughter of Floretta Baylin of Baylin Cotillions, who was Dorminy’s sister. “Judy instantly became the sister I never had.” Graham says.

Judy Baylin has similar sentiments towards Graham and says he has a superstar reputation. However, she says one of his best attributes has nothing to do with show business. “Mallory possesses the ability to simply ‘get it done’ in times of personal crisis. He will be there for you when your mind is muddled, meet and greet you when you are exhausted, hold your hand, or sit on the sideline,” Baylin says. “Either way, this ‘Star of Many Stages’ is there waiting for you in the wings.”

After joining forces with Dorminy, Graham established Dance South. He teaches classes there to this day despite recently selling the studio to Cres Ross, whom he calls his “very best student.” Graham says Ross is like a daughter to him and that he sold her the business “because I know she will run it like I have.”

Ross repeats a favorite “Mallory-ism”—”Hands on your hips and a smile on your lips,” and says “he is at once cuddly, sweet and demanding in the dance studio.”

Contestants of the Miss Mississippi Pageant, of which Graham is choreographer and producer, agree. Taryn Foshee, Miss Mississippi and third runner up to Miss America, said when she first met Graham he said: “If I do NOT yell and scream at you, call you out and embarrass you...it means I do NOT like you.”

She laughs, “If what he says is true, then he liked me A LOT, right from the beginning.”

Foshee attributes her confidence on the stage to Graham. With her talent being piano, says she was not a singer or a dancer. “With Mallory’s distinctive vision, each year 40 to 50 girls are able participate in the show of a lifetime. He brings Broadway to Mississippi,” she say.

For Dance South student Meg Cashion, what Graham has taught her expands outside the dance studio. “Mallory has been a major stabilizing force because he demands discipline, manners and the very best you can give. That philosophy has affected all areas of my life.” Cashion says. “I bring him a home-cooked meal once a week. All his students love him and he knows and cares for each one.”

Graham, the Producer

While Graham wants to be semi-retired, he is busier than ever. Graham recently produced, directed and choreographed the Miss Mississippi Pageant Show and the Outstanding Teen Pageant for Mississippi. Earlier in the summer, he traveled to the Nashville studio of Martina McBride to arrange the music for the Miss Mississippi Pageant. Also in 2008 he has produced “High School Musical” for the Community Theatre of Greensboro, “Theatre in the Schools” for Guilford County, “Aida” for the Myrtle Beach school system, and “Guys and Dolls” and “Little Shop of Horrors” for the High Point Community Theatre.

Allen Ditto, Pro Tools Operator and Carpenter for Martina McBride’s “Waking up Laughing” tour has worked with Graham for 16 years. “When I first met Mallory he scared me to death!” Ditto says. “I was just a ‘green’ kid and here was this guy who knew everything about putting on a show.”

Under Graham’s direction, the Miss Mississippi Pageant has won three Emmy awards. Graham also received an individual Emmy award for directing.

“Mallory expects perfection and will push you until you achieve it—he lets nothing slide and his shows reflect that,” Ditto says. “I now work with the best female artist in the world and each day I strive for perfection. Mallory is always in my head pushing me and I thank him every day for that.”

Pat Hopson, producer of the Miss Mississippi Pageant and vice chairman of Miss Mississippi Corp., first met Mallory when he choreographed one number at the pageant in 1990. When Hopson began producing the pageant, she insisted he stay and choreograph the entire show, which soon led to planning the show together and working hand in hand to produce the pageant.

“We always seem to think alike and many times will say the same thing in unison when expressing an idea about the show,” Hopson says.

It seems everyone who has worked with Graham is glowing with praise and sentiment. Not surprisingly so, since they all keep bringing him back for more. Graham was choreographer for “High Steppin’ Country,” a show that headlined in Myrtle Beach. Stage manager and production coordinator Becky Bannon says “Mallory has a wonderful rapport with the young people with whom he works. He can take a raw beginner and by show time have them dancing like Broadway stars.”

Graham, in retirement (or not)

After a long and eventful career, Graham is attempting to move toward retirement. “In my career I have been lucky enough to eat in the finest restaurants, stay in fabulous hotel suites and ride in limousines,” Graham says. “This was all wonderful, but I am really just a Carolina country boy at heart. Give me some fried chicken, a feather bed and a pick-up truck and I am happy.”

“I have won awards and worked with stars. God gave me a wonderful gift and I have truly enjoyed it, but it is time for me to slow down a little and smell the roses,” Graham says.

A main motive for cutting back his workload is family. Graham says he is very close to his mother and his three brothers and their wives and is looking to spend more time with them. “My one and only niece, Cassie will be 16 in February and I want to spend some time with her before she is grown,” Graham adds.

Graham says he is trying to simplify his life, which has been and is a wonderful journey. “I am very thankful for all the opportunities that have been given me,” he says.

Regardless of whether he manages to slow down, Graham’s work will live on for decades in the dance industry. His choreography is studied and performed all over the world and Graham is to tap what Chet Atkins is to country music.

As Dance South’s Ross puts it, “Mallory Graham taught me to TAP LIKE CRAZY!”

Graham continues to teach a few classes at the Dance South Performing Arts studio in High Point. Occasionally he makes himself available to share his expertise, choreography and personality with a special class, workshop or show. Watch for these rare opportunities; he has something to teach every dancer and performer, no matter what the style. You will be enthralled, trained and entertained by, as Judy Baylin refers to him, this “Master of Many Stages.”

Pamela Beamon is owner of Dance With Me Studios in Winston-Salem. Lyn Luersen and Darryl Wilson are Photo Editors for Latitude Magazine and owners of Cool Water Productions. Visit www.coolwaterphotography.com.