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Judy
Baxter
Judy is a native of Texas, but has lived all over the
southwest. Judy has 2 parents, one brother, 1 nephew and
2 nieces, and 1 dog. According to Judy’s parents,
Judy sang before she could speak and was often reprimanded
for making too much noise singing in her room after being
put to bed. Judy says she got her sense of rhythm from
her Dad, James Baxter. He used to rock back and forth
and pat Judy at the same time, which is why Judy won back-to-back
championships at several “Pat Your Head While Rubbing
Your Belly” contests. After winning those contests,
Judy’s life took some strange turns, which we'll
get to later in our story….
Judy participated in dance in grade school with a troupe
that performed folk dance from foreign countries, and
also taught folk dance to other children. Judy attended
high school in Carlsbad, NM, and learned modern dance
and jazz from a teacher who was both a teacher and choreographer
for the Ice Capades. The experience with high school dance
seemed to hit a nerve, and Judy actively pursued dance
from that point on.
Following high school, Judy tried to enroll in dance school
and pursue a professional career in dance. Sadly, Judy
was told her boobs were too big for dance, so Judy got
a BS degree in Architecture, with a minor in Architectural
History. (What was she thinking?). But, her boobs were
also too big for architecture, so she became lots of other
things…. a Technical Manager for the City of Dallas
(17 years), a landscaper and a Registered Massage and
Neuromuscular Therapist. Judy is in demand as a choreographer
in the Sweet Adeline and SPEBSQSA organizations, has traveled
extensively to the UK and Alaska as a coach, and has designed
and coached choreography for four international champion
choruses – Toast of Tampa, Melodeers and The Ambassadors
of Harmony (SPEBSQSA) and The Rich-Tone Chorus. Judy has
performed and taught in the UK, Sweden, New Zealand, the
Netherlands, Scotland and Australia.
Judy served the Rich-Tone chorus as head choreographer
for 13 years, designing the choreography and visual plans
that helped lead the Rich-Tone chorus to three international
chorus championships.
Judy is creative, talented, artistic, blessed with a great
sense of rhythm and jazz and is a wonderful teacher and
friend. Judy loves the color purple, likes to stir all
food before eating it, and has eluded marriage for years
by adopting the philosophy "love 'em and leave 'em".
The most important thing to remember about Judy Baxter,
though, is what happened to Judy as a result of the “Pat
Your Head While Rubbing Your Belly” contests. Following
the dedication, work and inspiration of the head/belly
contests, Judy designed choreography for strip tease artists.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
IES-1999, 2001, 2002
Queen’s College-2002, 2004
Cruise in Accord-2002
EES-2002
REGIONAL EXPERIENCE
Music Faculty-1990-current
Summer Music Camp-1990-current
Fall meeting/training 1990-current
Quartet Retreat Coach 1990-current
MUSICAL EXPERIENCE
Musical Instruments-Clarinet, alto clarinet, bassoon
Choir-2 years, all state chorus-1971
Voice Instruction 1973-1976
Sweet Adelines International 1985-present
Rock Band
Small performing group 1972-1974
Section leader, Choreographer
Fusion Quartet, 1986 Region #25 champions
Rumors Quartet, 1999 International Quartet Champion
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Architecture-TTU
Certified Accessibility Specialist
Certified Make Up Artist
Certified Building Official
Ballroom Dance Instructor
Registered Massage and Neuromuscular Therapist |
