Dance with Desiree

She touched so many lives and lifted up everyone she came in contact with. Her infectious personality and smile will be hard to live without.

I loved her more than words can describe and am grateful for every minute together.

Desiree left this world to make the other world as beautiful as she was, a beautiful person making a difference in this world. We love you.

Aside from her explosive energy, proficiency of blocking numbers at lightning speed, and uncanny ability to always upgrade to first class, the thing I will remember most about Desiree is that she believed in me — sometimes too much.

It’s the year 2001, it’s a Sunday morning at Tremaine Dance Conventions and Competitions and you’ve just spent the whole night last night practicing Desiree Robbins' combo in hopes that she says “YES DIVA!” when it’s your group's turn. I could go on and on. Desiree was an icon and had the deepest impact on the dancers she trained.

When I decided to move to LA at 18 it was Dez that set me up with an agent and checked on me regularly. Dez got me my first teaching jobs outside of NJ and encouraged me to choreograph. When she knew my Mom was going to be awarded a special award at Tremaine Nationals she told me she needed an assistant (she didn’t) and flew me to Orlando on her own expense to make sure I was there to see my Mom celebrated.

I will never forget the day Dez caught me in the elevator and told me to email her, she wanted me to be on the Tremaine Performance Company but she did not want my mom to do it. She wanted ME to do it for myself at 12 years old. I didn’t even know what an email was.. haha. When my parents couldn’t afford for me to travel and pay for a room for a convention, she found a way to make it possible for me.