As a young boy, a nursery school teacher recognized his love for dance and suggested he start lessons.  His mother Joyce (Stein) Davidoff took him to a local studio (Mrs Lee Rom) where he he learned tap dance and entered his first regional competition

He realized that he was surrounded mostly by girls and this disturbed him and he never want to divulge to his friends

He continued to enter competitions and was never not placed (1,2,3, or 4)  among 20-30 other competitors, and in fact winning most of them and culminating in becoming the South African national junior champion in both tap and flamenco dancing when he was fourteen.

He made sure he did “boy things” as well and played competitive team sports including soccer tennis and eventually rugby in High school as well to ensure he would not be labelled  (South African culture late 1950’s and 1960’s)

 

First Dance Competition SA Dance festival – about 6 years old
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net

His parents and especially his mother recognized his talent and was also sensitive to his reservations and angst about being the only boy in the Johannesburg dance world of his age so they started him in a flamenco dance school of Gitanella – an authentic Spanish flamenco dance teacher whose dance studio was in Orange Grove Johannesburg.

Flamenco Dance late 1950’s early 60’s age 9 or 10
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonvein.net
Flamenco Dance late 1950’s early 60’s age 9 or 10
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonvein.net
Flamenco Dance late 1950’s early 60’s age 9 or 10
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonvein.net

 

Visiting Russian dance Jerachian who was visiting performer from Russia – provided a few lessons during his short stay in Johannesburg
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net
From left to right Russian dance teacher Jerachin, flamenco dance teacher Gitanella, pianist Mrs Richardson, and Mom Joyce Stein Davidoff
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net
Tap Dance About 1960 or 1961
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net
Ashley and Ravin participated in a Christmas concert for poor children in Johannesburg – about 1962
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net
Ashley and Ravin participated in a Christmas concert for poor children in Johannesburg – about 1962
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net

He made sure he did “boy things” as well and played competitive team sports including soccer tennis and eventually rugby in High school as well to ensure he would not be labelled  (South African culture late 1950’s and 1960’s

Tennis team King David School about 1963
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net
Captain of the Soccer Team team King David School about 1963
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17MUV0SlWqZ-FvY5ivkOmbaBjflukJcYx/view

 

 

Scrum half for the rugby Team team King David School about 1964
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net
Tap Dance
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QT193qlxk

Bachata with Edith Wendell

RAD BEAT was a dance created from the sounds of MRI and Doppler Ultrasound and premiered  on the Green outside Boston Medical Center in the Fall of 2022.  The music and dance were created by members of the Davidoff family, and the dancers were mebers of the department of Radiology of Boston Medical Center.  There were 3 consecutive performances for Halloween on the Green,  Halloween Dance for the pediatric in-patients, and then for Rad Tech week

The dance was taught through a web page that contains the music, and  instruction video

RAD BEAT Click to See the Dance

BMC RAD BEAT Challenge
October 2022