WALKING TALL

A neighborhood resident and professional stiltwalker shares her bird’s-eye view

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“Now it’s time for some fun!”

So says King Birtram in Dr. Seuss’ little-known 1939 book, “The King’s Stilts.” Every day at five in the afternoon, after tending to the business of the Kingdom of Binn, the benevolent king climbs upon his shiny red stilts and happily races through the marble halls of his castle, blowing off a little royal steam. In this rare, non-rhyming work, Dr. Seuss preaches the importance of working hard and playing hard.

You’ll find the same passion for balance (both literal and figurative) in Lakewood Heights neighbor Rita Joye Gray. She’s been a stiltwalker for years and loves it. “The instant I put them on, I feel 8 years old again,” she says. “For a woman who is 58 years young, that is a really cool feeling. I wish everyone could feel like that.”

Gray’s bird’s-eye journey began 12 years ago at Cedar Valley College, where she was a music student. Sitting in on a planning session for the school’s original production of “Clowntasia,” the director announced he needed someone to play a giant butterfly. “Before I even realized it,” Gray says with a laugh, “my right arm immediately shot up in the air. I mean, after all, who doesn’t want to be a giant butterfly?”

She received no instruction with the required stilts, but instead gave herself a crash course in stiltwalking. Gray went with drywall stilts, which allow for easy movement as well as standing still and are adjustable from two to four feet. Generally, Gray says, she is about eight feet tall with stilts. She discovered that a four-foot ladder can be terribly handy for climbing onto and removing the stilts. She had tinkered with them as a kid, building a pair out of 2-by-4s, but had no other experience. However, she exhibited grace under pressure. “I learned quickly since I was expected to perform on stage every night,” she explains.

Gray soon found her stiltwalking services in demand at parties, festivals and parades, work she readily performed for free, just for the love of it. Then she met other stiltwalkers who plugged her into their world of performance art, and she began getting paid gigs. She has walked (and danced) in parades for the State Fair of Texas, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Gay Pride, Tyler Rose Festival and, just a few weeks ago, the Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Centennial. She was a full-time Dream Bird at Summer Adventures at Fair Park last summer and has entertained crowds at grand openings, weddings and special events.

Four years ago, her life partner, Kristian Craige, joined the fun.

He ordered a pair of stilts online, picked up a few pointers from Gray, and practiced in their driveway and backyard until he felt confident. “I was so happy to finally have a dance partner my size,” Gray says. She swears that dancing is not only possible on stilts, but that it’s also her “favorite thing to do.” She insists that once you’re accustomed to the feeling of stilts, they feel like your own legs. Line dancing, she adds, is especially fun with a group.

Fun it may be, but stiltwalking is not without its perils and occasional mishaps. Out of hundreds of walks, Gray has fallen three times. The first time she was unscathed, but the other two tumbles resulted in fractured elbows. While she finds dancing a piece of cake, running can be a challenge, stairs are difficult to navigate, and she has found it’s best to avoid stepping in water.

Costumes, too, can pose problems. Whether Gray and Craige are outfitted as toy soldiers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, or a cowboy and cowgirl, costumes must be maneuverable and the pants just the right length, covering the stilts but not so long as to step on them. Gray recalls a gig at the Hotel Zaza where she portrayed a tall Glenda the Good Witch at Halloween. The costume, made out of 500 yards of fabric, required her to climb up a ladder and up into the skirt. “It was very impressive, yet very difficult to manage.”

Gray remembers another time when her safety was compromised. She was in Galveston, stiltwalking on the seawall while there were thousands of motorcyclists in town for the Lone Star Rally. She was a bit taken aback when some asked to ride their bikes through her long legs. “In the interest of my safety, I declined,” she says with a chuckle.

Aside from stiltwalking, Gray and Craige lead busy lives. Gray is a dog-walker/petsitter, and Craige is a full-time caregiver of his elderly mom, Loyce Craige. Together the couple created the nonprofit Mystic Media Foundation, which teaches kids how to use digital media. They also get gigs playing guitar and singing. They work hard and play hard. King Birtram would be proud.

Canal Clothing

Crest Tailors

Ebby Halliday

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Hillside Beauty Salon

Hillside Shoe Service

Joe O’s Cleaners

Lakewood 1st & 10

The Little Gym

Mike’s Discount Liquor

Mockingbird Swim

Olivella’s Pinot’s Palette

PK’s Fine Wine & Spirits

PlayTri

Pro Martial Arts

Results Fitness

Romano’s Bakery

Salon Suites at Hillside Village

Sarah Strout Music Studio

Texas Premier Title

White Rock Coffee

Celebrating60 Years

• Classic education

• Dedicated to the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development of children

• 3 years through 6th grade

• Half-day and full day Kindergarten options

Observation dates are Nov. 12 & 13 and Jan. 14 & 15 Open House Jan. 25, 2015

Highlander School

9120 Plano Road, Dallas, TX 75238 214-348-3220 www.highlanderschool.com

Since 1966 The Tradition Continues…

Does your bright child struggle with things like…

• Attention and concentration

• Executive functioning

Winston brings hope for today and a road map for tomorrow. Open House: November 13th, 9-11 AM

Let us help you nd your way.

• Dyslexia www.winston-school.org 5707 Royal Lane Dallas, TX 75229

Dallas Academy

950 Tiffany Way, Dallas 75218 / 214.324.1481 / dallas-academy.com Founded in 1965, Dallas Academy’s mission is to restore the promise of full academic enrichment to students with learning differences in grades 1-12. A meaningful connection with each student is established to overcome barriers to success. Dallas Academy offers students an effective program and strategies to meet the special educational needs of bright students with learning differences, while including the activities of a larger, more traditional school. Classes are small, with a student-teacher ratio of 6 to 1 where students are encouraged, praised, and guided toward achieving their goals. Diagnostic testing is available to students throughout the community.

Highlander School

9120 Plano Rd. Dallas / 214.348.3220 / www.highlanderschool.com Founded in 1966, Highlander School offers an enriched curriculum in a positive, Christian-based environment. Small class sizes help teachers understand the individual learning styles of each student. Give us a call for more information.

Lakehill Preparatory School

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep. org Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

Spanish House

5740 Prospect Ave. & 4411 Skillman / 214-826-4410 / DallasSpanishHouse.com

Spanish House is a Spanish immersion school with two Lakewood locations for children ages 3 months - Kindergarten. We offer half-day and full-day programs, with extended care available from 7:30am - 6:00pm. We also offer after-school and Saturday classes for PK and elementary-aged students, both onand off-site. Additionally, we have an adult Spanish program for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S MONTESSORI SCHOOL

7900 Lovers Ln. / 214.363.9391 stchristophersmontessori.com St. Christopher’s Montessori School has been serving families in the DFW area for over a quarter of a century. We are affiliated with the American Montessori Society and our teachers are certified Montessori instructors. Additionally our staff has obtained other complimentary educational degrees and certifications, including having a registered nurse on staff. Our bright and attractive environment, and highly qualified staff, ensures your child will grow and develop in an educationally sound, AMS certified loving program. Now Enrolling.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org Founded in 1953, St. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through Grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, St. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service.St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency.

The Winston School

5707 Royal Lane Dallas, Tx 75229 / 214691-6950 / www.winston-school.org If your bright child struggles with things like Attention and Concentration, Executive Functioning and Dyslexia, The Winston School may be able to help. The Winston School has a robust academic program which prepares a student for college while at the same time developing the whole child. We understand bright children who learn differently and recognize their unique gifts and talents. Celebrating and validating these assets with our students enables them to discover who they are, and empowers them to be consistently successful. The Winston School brings hope for today and a road map for tomorrow. Open House: November 13th from 9-11 am.

White Rock North School

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410 / WhiteRockNorthSchool.com

6 Weeks through 6th Grade. Our accelerated curriculum provides opportunity for intellectual and physical development in a loving and nurturing environment. Character-building and civic responsibility are stressed. Facilities include indoor swimming pool, skating rink, updated playground, and state-of-the-art technology lab. Kids Club on the Corner provides meaningful after-school experiences. Summer Camp offers field trips, swimming, and a balance of indoor and outdoor activities designed around fun-filled themes. Accredited by SACS. Call for a tour of the campus.

Zion Lutheran School

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630 / ziondallas. org Toddler care thru 8th Grade. Serving Dallas for over 58 years offering a quality education in a Christ-centered learning environment. Degreed educators minister to the academic, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of students and their families. Before and after school programs, Extended Care, Parents Day Out, athletics, fine arts, integrated technology, Spanish, outdoor education, Accelerated Reader, advanced math placement, and student government. Accredited by National Lutheran School & Texas District Accreditation Commissions and TANS. Contact Principal Jeff Thorman.

69% of our 200,000+ readers with average income of $146,750 want more info about private schools.

Anglican

ALL SAINTS DALLAS / 2733 Oak Lawn / 972.755.3505

Radical Inclusivity, Profound Transformation. Come and See!

9:00 & 11:00 am Sunday Services. www.allsaintschurchdallas.org

Baptist

LAKESIDE BAPTIST / 9150 Garland Rd / 214.324.1425

Worship — 8:30 am Classic & 11:00 am Contemporary

Pastor Jeff Donnell / www.lbcdallas.com

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

All services & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45. Trad. & Blended (Sanctuary),

Contemporary (Great Hall), Amigos de Dios (Gym) / 214.860.1500

PRESTONWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH / “A Church to Call Home”

Sundays: Bible Fellowship (all ages) 9:15 am /Service Time 11:00 am

12123 Hillcrest Road / 972.820.5000 / prestonwood.org

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

Disciples Of Christ

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / THE TABLE Worship 9:30 am

Worship 8:30 & 10:50 am / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

Episcopal

ST. MATTHEW’S CATHEDRAL / 5100 Ross Ave.

Sunday Traditional: 8:00 & 10:30 am / Adult Education 9:30 am

Servicio en español 12:30 pm / 214.823.8134 / episcopalcathedral.org

Lutheran

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

Sunday School for all ages 9:00 am / Worship Service 10:30 am

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Lane

Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule.

214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

Methodist

LAKE HIGHLANDS UMC / 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School / 10:30 am Coffee

Worship: 8:30 am & 10:50 am Traditional / 10:50 am Contemporary

MUNGER PLACE CHURCH / Expect Great Things.

Worship Sundays, 9:30 and 11:00 am / 5200 Bryan Street 214.823.9929 / www.mungerplacechurch.org

RIDGEWOOD PARK UMC / 6445 E. Lovers Lane / 214.369.9259

Sunday Worship: 9:30 am Traditional and 11:35 am Contemporary

Sunday School: 10:30 am / Rev. Ann Willet / ridgewoodparkchurch.org

WHITE ROCK UNITED METHODIST / www.wrumc.org

1450 Oldgate Lane / 214.324.3661

Sunday Worship 10:50 am / Rev. Mitchell Boone

Presbyterian

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr.

214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Welcomes you to Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am / Church School 9:35 am / Childcare provided.

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN / Skillman & Monticello

Rev. Rob Leischner. / www.standrewsdallas.org

214.821.9989 / Sunday School 9:30 am, Worship 10:45 am

Unity

UNITY OF DALLAS / A Positive Path For Spiritual Living

6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 / 972.233.7106 / UnityDallas.org

Sunday services: 9:00 am & 11:00 am

UNITY ON GREENVILLE / Your soul is welcome here!

3425 Greenville Ave. / 214.826.5683 / www.dallasunity.org

Sunday Service 11:00 am and Book Study 9:30 am