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Vol. 71 No. 9 | Feb. 26, 2020 southphillyreview.com
Lorie-Lu Celebrating 50 Years By Mark Zimmaro SOUTH PHILLY REVIEW
T
here’s a feeling of love inside the Lorie-Lu Studio of Dance on the cozy corner of 11th and Mountain streets in the East Passyunk neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Black and white photos of when owners Lorraine Speziale and Lucille Bunnion first fell in love with dance, and colorful memories of past dance recitals hang on the walls of the tight vestibule in the reception area. Inside, a small group of girls glance at their reflections pirouetting across a long wall of mirrors, the thuds of their footsteps amplified by the smooth hardwood floor. This narrow dance studio was carefully crafted decades ago by Speziale and Bunnion, who are South Philly sisters, about five years apart in age. Fifty years ago, they were still basically kids themselves, Bunnion was 21 and Speziale was just 16 when they caught their break. The owner of the studio they danced at told them it was closing. “I was taking lessons from a lady and I always asked her about opening a school,” Speziale said. “Then I get a phone call saying she was closing, and she asked me if she could refer all her students to me. And I’m thinking all we need is like $500. Three mirrors, bars and a record player and we’re done. Sure enough, that’s what happened.” See LORIE-LU, page 4>>
MARK ZIMMARO/South Philly Review
Jacquelyn Shapson stretches before a ballet class at the Lorie-Lu School of Dance.
One-of-a-kind health care for a one-of-a-kind neighborhood.
JeffersonHealth.org/SouthPhilly