CATHY DOOLEY HAS RETIRED!

       TRIBUTE TO CATHY DOOLEY

           "THERE WILL NEVER BE
              ANOTHER LIKE HER!"
At the Follies Cast Party on 3-19-15, Cathy Dooley
announced her retirement after almost 60 years
of teaching dance, choreographing, directing and
producing. 

           During the 15 years as Producer, Director, Choreographer and Mother to "The Original Florida Follies", we observed how our organization grew under her tutelage.  Cathy's determination - along with her instinctive creativity - made The Follies one of its kind in Florida.   To top all of this,  many  Children-in-Need organizations became monetary  recipients of her generosity to the tune of over  $780,000!

           Fifty-eight years ago Cathy began her teaching career in a studio in Astoria, New York, from which nine of her students went on to become Radio City Rockettes.  After she came to Florida,  from 1990 through 2000, Cathy choreographed dance routines for the "Ziegfeld Girls of South Florida".   Some of the dancers encouraged Cathy to start her own Follies, and in 2001 their one show at Omni Auditorium featured 12 dancers, 5 showgirls, an MC and 2 assistants.  After word got around about Cathy and her troupe, the Follies' Omni show in 2002 had a full house!  Many new dancers, showgirls, models and acts and several venues were added over the years, but since 2009 audiences have flocked to three favorites: Omni, Olympic Heights Theater and Parker Playhouse.

          Because of all these accomplishments, she was invited as Guest of Honor at the 2014 Rockette Alumnae Association meeting in NYC and received a statuette for her outstanding teaching and directorial skills as well as for her humanitarianism. 

          Even though there have been team players helping her through the years, all this has been tremendous work for Cathy - physically, mentally and emotionally - and we understand her need to hand it over to those with younger vigor and energy.   We hate to see you go. . . . .but if you must. . . . . .
                         - TO OUR CATHY -
WE RAISE OUR GLASSES TO YOU AND
WISH YOU GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS
AND BLESSINGS IN YOUR NEW
LEISURE LIFE!  HIP,HIP,HOORAY!