Leni (LAY-NEE) thinks she was born with the desire to dance. As a young child she’d dance around the house on her toes, leading her mother to take her to ballet class at the age of eight. Following years of poor training she attended the High School of Performing Arts. After two years she transferred to a local high school, continuing ballet classes after school. Though she graduated eighth in a class of almost 700, she refused to go to college because she had to DANCE.

She is very grateful to have been born in NYC, as she doesn’t think she’d have had the courage to come to New York on her own, as so many DO40 members did. Her first job was in summer stock at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, MA. She had previously only thought of being a ballet dancer, but that summer completely changed her focus. She loved doing musicals.

Her professional career somehow took place in twos - two summers of stock, in Hyannis and Northshore Music Theatre, Beverly MA, with a brief stint in the Radio City Music Hall Corps de Ballet between. Also, there were several shows at the Meadowbrook Dinner Theatre and one at the Paper Mill Playhouse.

There were two Broadway shows, “Do Re Mi” with Phil Silvers and Nancy Walker, and “Carnival” with Jerry Orbach and Anna Maria Alberghetti. Also, two industrials - Chevrolet and Buick. Though some people looked down on industrials she loved doing them. And two television shows The Bell Telephone Hour with Ray Bolger. As “Where’s Charley” was the first show she had seen as a child, she was excited to work with him. She did Jimmy Durante’s act twice, and was thrilled to be on the Ed Sullivan Show with him. After signing the contract, she silently sang to herself “Me on the Ed Sullivan Show” on the way home in the subway.

Having danced professionally for only six years, it became apparent that even though she worked diligently on singing lessons, her singing left much to be desired. It was the deciding factor in making a career change which included twenty plus years as a Director of Training in the cosmetics and jewelry industries; and a dozen years in Development at non-profit organizations.

Leni was very happy to be reunited with dance through DO 40. She enjoyed participating in the Radio City Music Hall Corps de Ballet panel, and is delighted to have attended almost all the panels. Pleased to consistently volunteer she has become a champion ticket taker and proof reader. She feels the DO 40 mission of maintaining Our History, Our Legacy, Our Lives is so important not only to current members, but for generations to come.