BEVERLY LINDSAY-JOHNSON
WRITTEN BY MARCIA FOSTER

Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, the Golden Girl!
She is loyal, determined, short (smile) hard worker, creative, producer, award winner, married, leader, versatile, serious, intelligent, loves Doo Wop music, hand dancer, historian, opportunist, businesswoman, effective, organizer, loyal, classy, feminine, detached, knowledgeable, understanding, and extremely persistent.
She is Beverly Lindsay-Johnson.  I interviewed her at her home on Friday, July 22, 2011.  She was born on September 17 (Virgo) in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in the Bronx, New York, from kindergarten until college.  Her father was in various Doo Wop groups, such as, the Cadillac's, the Twilighters, and the Starlings, where he was one of the lead singers.  Beverly gave me a CD called "Songs of Bill Lindsay" that I will, eventually, put on her web  page.  I heard the CD and its nice, took me back to my early teen days.  Well, we know where her passion for Doo Wop music came from.  She moved to Washington, D.C., in 1977.  She is married to William "Bill" Johnson.  She is founder and President of Kendall Productions, LLC, her own multi-media production company.  She studied broadcast communications at Hunter College in New York and Howard University (HU), School of Communications, in Washington, D.C.  In 2009 and after 28 years of service, she retired from HU at WHUT-TV, as a lead producer.
In 1978, she started working at HU, College of Dentistry, as an Administrative Assistant.  In 1990, she took a position as Secretary in the Department of Operations and Engineering at WHUT-TV.  This position gave her the opportunity to work in the area of her passion--broadcast communications.  She was given the opportunity to dabble at producing a documentary which was called "Swing, Bob and Hand Dance"--which she did on her own time while continuing her daily duties.  In 1997, Beverly received her first award for
the--Emmy-nominated--"Swing, Bop and Hand Dance" Documentary.  After that she was unstoppable and her career was "on a role".  From what I counted, Beverly has received at least 27 prestigious trophy's and awards in the fields of communications, history, art, documentation's, and music.  I don't have the space to list all of her accomplishments but there were plenty of them.  When you see her, ask her about them.
In 2005, she began working in the production department at WHUT-TV for "Evening Exchange", the highly regarded public affairs program hosted by Kojo Nnamdi.  She quickly became the lead producer.
This brings us to "Dance Party: The Teenarama Story" Documentary.  Beverly produced this special project which introduces, describes, and demonstrates the official dance of Washington, D.C., called 'Hand Dance'.    This dance was danced by baby boomers (then teenagers from various high schools) on the African American side in the 1960's and programmed by a television station called WOOK-TV.  The name of the teen television dance show was called "The Teenarama Dance Party" which aired from 1963-1970, respectfully.  At that time, the Teenarama television dance show was the jewel of the African American community in Washington, D.C.
Beverly handled the writing of the grants, production, research, co-direction, interviews, historical aspects, finances, organization, and execution of this documentary.  Her partner in directing the documentary was the late Herb Grimes. The final production was completed by Kendall, LLC.  This documentary is now a part of history and it received the 2007 Emmy Award for "Best in Cultural Documentary".  It also received three other awards/trophies, including archiving in the Paley Center for Media in New York and Los Angeles, where it is considered one of the most significant documentaries of 2006 on history and culture.  In a closing attempt to continue to preserve the history of the Teenarama Dance Party, upon completion of the documentary, she donated all of her production materials to the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Washington, D.C., including scripts, hand written notes, videotapes, interview transcripts, archival photographs and more.  THANK YOU BEVERLY!
In the documentary credits, she thanks everyone that supported the project and the making of this documentation.  Of course, she had obstacles, but this was a very special project for Beverly to pursue and with her determination, steadfastness, and persistence she had the courage, strength, and support to complete it to the end.  This project was interesting, exciting and very special to the majority of hand dancers of the 1950s, especially the 1960s; also, special to those who know the legacy of the Teenarama Dance Party and those that just learned about it.
In 1998, Beverly joined the National Hand Dance Association (NHDA) and she asked them to be the non-profit fiscal sponsor for "Dance Party: The Teenarama Story".  In 2002, she became the NHDA Historian.  The NHDA is an organization whose mission is to preserve 'Hand Dance' in the nations capital and nationally. 
As we all know in 2008-2009, the NHDA was dying.   In 2009, Beverly saw the opportunity to give assistance to an organization which she thought should promote culture and tradition of the old, new, and classical dance of 'Hand Dance'.  With the support of other members of the NHDA, she jumped in to improve and achieve the condition and recognition of the NHDA that was so desperately needed and deserved.
She has been writing and awarded grants for the NHDA
since 2003 for public outreach programs and its archiving of
the history of 'Hand Dance'.  She is currently negotiating a deal for the NHDA with D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray's Youth Program staff to incorporate youth and senior 'Hand Dance' workshops within the recreation centers and Senior Wellness Centers.  She strives to be fair in sharing 'Hand Dance' opportunities as they become available for the youth/young adults and senor's.  It has been said, "no one can bring the old school and the new school hand dancers together like Beverly.  In 2009, Beverly also produced a new general teen television dance show called "D.C. Dancin' Teens"
Beverly plans to step down from her obligation with the NHDA after this term is over. (Marcia's  perspective:  This will be a big mistake for the NHDA.  I hope she reconsiders because it will be a loss.  I was a member and an Executive Officer (Treasurer) of the NHDA in 2001, and at that time the leadership was off, it was not well organized, not beneficial to the community, there was no compassion for people or the dance, and business wise they didn't know what the hell they were doing.  The only constructive and positive activity that was going on within the NHDA at that time was the production and execution of the 'hand dance' competitions led by Lawrence Bradford.)
Beverly is now working for Judge Mathis (I love him!) as a case researcher; she produces documentaries for clients; works with early R&B artists of the 1950s, 1960, and 1970s; and she works with the NHDA as she puts them on the map.  MORE POWER TO YOU, BEVERLY.
Beverly shared with the people of the metropolitan area her style of class, dignity, culture, history, producing abilities, legacy, her passions, and her special style of hand dancing.  People tell her that she hand dances like she has been here all her life.  This is one person that we all need to know.
Beverly, on behalf of the 'Hand Dance' community--thank you--for your efforts and the work that you inspired and accomplished for the art form of dancing--'Hand Dance'.  If it weren't for you, there is a possibility that 'Hand Dance' would be left right where it is "on the dance floor".  You are deeply loved, admired, and appreciated.  (P.S.  Don't leave the NHDA, please.)
Beverly, along with the Executive Officers and Board Members, have created a miracle with the NHDA and they would love your support to keep it going!  I encourage you to join the organization by going to www.nationalhanddanceassociation.org or see one of them on the dance floor!
Thank you!

l-f: Beverly next to her Dad
    and the Marquees
Beverly with her
Emmy (trophy) Award
Beverly receiving an award
The National Hand Association                    Executive Officers
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray at the Chateau with the NHDA
Beverly with Marya and Markus
Beverly and Jerome
     hand dancing
"Hand Dance: A Capital Swing", Produced by Beverly for the NHDA