| Tina Benson Skenes Biography |
Grew up in Rockingham, NC. Graduated from RSHS in 1974.
Taught dance in Rockingham and Laurinburg until I moved to
Myrtle Beach in 1980 to perform at now defunct Magic Harbor.
Almost immediately met the "love of my life" (a very handsome
magicianballoonartistmentaliststuntperformingcrazyman who
had leased a theater at the same park) and after only 4 months,
we married. After 27 years, he's "still the one".
My children are:
(1) Victoria Leigh, now 26 and a singer/dancer/actress/model.
She has worked professionally since she was 15-- with Steve
Gatlin at his theater in Myrtle Beach, in "Summer of 66" at the
same theater, in "World of Magic" with Mark Kalin and Jinger in
Pigeon Forge, in "Showgirls", "Bareback", and "Broadway
Showstoppers" in Reno, NV, and back to Myrtle Beach for
"Tribute: The Concert". Television appearances have included:
"Dawsons Creek" and MTV's "Fear". She has been featured
twice in Maxim's "Hometown Hotties", and in catalogs for
"Peter Grimm Headwear", "One Serious Threat" and others.
Currently, she lives in the Orlando area with her boyfriend Scot.
(2) Carl Edward, 21, who recently returned from Atlantic City,
where he demonstrated and performed at Magic Masters (and
the Dickens Parlour Magic Theater) at the Tropicana Casino.
He also began performing at an early age, with his first role as
the "Little Drummer Boy" in the Dixie Stampede Christmas
show in Myrtle Beach. After his second season there, he
informed everyone that he wouldn't be back the next year, and,
true to his word the next Christmas season, he was dancing at
Walt Disney World-- and he was only 9! (and still lived in Myrtle
Beach, which was quite a challenge!) By his third season there,
we had decided to relocate to Orlando... And the rest is history.
If you ask either of them how they got started dancing, they'll
respond that "Mom said it was cheaper than daycare." (They
were right!)
I taught dance until our big "move". My husband was under
contract to Disney, and my plan was to retire, spending my
days out by the pool, drinking pina coladas and working on my
tan. After 5 weeks of sleeping late, drinking and tanning, I
decided that I needed to work, since boredom doesn't
"become" me.
I began working in Main Street Operations at the Magic
Kingdom in 1999, moving to "Disney Magic Music Days" in
2003. It's the most fun job I've ever had; I feel very fortunate to
be here. (I get to host guest talent-- the bands, choirs, dance
groups, etc. who come to Walt Disney world to perform on our
stages... or march prior to our parades.) I see the same
enthusiasm every day that our HS band showed in 1973 when
we journeyed from Richmond County to Orlando to march
down Main Street USA. It's truly a magical experience!
My husband continues to perform, and just returned after a
month of shows in Shanghai, China. Oh, the stories he tells! He
is currently performing at Hard Rock Park...back in Myrtle
Beach!
My Dad (Streetie Benson)passed away in 2004, and my Mom
(Louise)lives in an assisted-living facility in Naples, near my
sister Vickie. At the age of 86, Mom's still doing well. I see her
as often as I can.
I have a wonderful job, many close friends and a loving family.
Life is good.
School??? Hamlet High from 1970-1972, Richmond Senior High
School from 1972-1974. Richmond Technical Institute...I mean
Richmond Technical College...no wait--Richmond Community
College from 1977-1979. Withdrew one quarter from graduation
with a 3.74 GPA because I was in the midst of
separation/divorce and decided that "DISCO WAS KING". (Not
really, but I sure had a good time!)
Employment, in order: Hardees, Woods (dime store, remember
those?) Hannah Pickett plant (no windows, I inspected
tablecloths and napkins), Gilead Manufacturing Company
(folded elastic on panties, no kidding.), Karen Gibson School of
Dance. (Praise her, she was my idol!) "High Steppin' Country"
at Magic Harbor, "Nashville Opry" in Myrtle Beach (a certain
Rockingham resident still owes me over $1000), "Ferlin Husky
Jubilee" (THAT "piece of work" owes me over $10000!),
Creative Arts Center, Artworks, Elite Dance Centre (finally, I
was a business partner!), and last... WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!
Woo Hoo! I think I'll stay where I am.
Taught dance in Rockingham and Laurinburg until I moved to
Myrtle Beach in 1980 to perform at now defunct Magic Harbor.
Almost immediately met the "love of my life" (a very handsome
magicianballoonartistmentaliststuntperformingcrazyman who
had leased a theater at the same park) and after only 4 months,
we married. After 27 years, he's "still the one".
My children are:
(1) Victoria Leigh, now 26 and a singer/dancer/actress/model.
She has worked professionally since she was 15-- with Steve
Gatlin at his theater in Myrtle Beach, in "Summer of 66" at the
same theater, in "World of Magic" with Mark Kalin and Jinger in
Pigeon Forge, in "Showgirls", "Bareback", and "Broadway
Showstoppers" in Reno, NV, and back to Myrtle Beach for
"Tribute: The Concert". Television appearances have included:
"Dawsons Creek" and MTV's "Fear". She has been featured
twice in Maxim's "Hometown Hotties", and in catalogs for
"Peter Grimm Headwear", "One Serious Threat" and others.
Currently, she lives in the Orlando area with her boyfriend Scot.
(2) Carl Edward, 21, who recently returned from Atlantic City,
where he demonstrated and performed at Magic Masters (and
the Dickens Parlour Magic Theater) at the Tropicana Casino.
He also began performing at an early age, with his first role as
the "Little Drummer Boy" in the Dixie Stampede Christmas
show in Myrtle Beach. After his second season there, he
informed everyone that he wouldn't be back the next year, and,
true to his word the next Christmas season, he was dancing at
Walt Disney World-- and he was only 9! (and still lived in Myrtle
Beach, which was quite a challenge!) By his third season there,
we had decided to relocate to Orlando... And the rest is history.
If you ask either of them how they got started dancing, they'll
respond that "Mom said it was cheaper than daycare." (They
were right!)
I taught dance until our big "move". My husband was under
contract to Disney, and my plan was to retire, spending my
days out by the pool, drinking pina coladas and working on my
tan. After 5 weeks of sleeping late, drinking and tanning, I
decided that I needed to work, since boredom doesn't
"become" me.
I began working in Main Street Operations at the Magic
Kingdom in 1999, moving to "Disney Magic Music Days" in
2003. It's the most fun job I've ever had; I feel very fortunate to
be here. (I get to host guest talent-- the bands, choirs, dance
groups, etc. who come to Walt Disney world to perform on our
stages... or march prior to our parades.) I see the same
enthusiasm every day that our HS band showed in 1973 when
we journeyed from Richmond County to Orlando to march
down Main Street USA. It's truly a magical experience!
My husband continues to perform, and just returned after a
month of shows in Shanghai, China. Oh, the stories he tells! He
is currently performing at Hard Rock Park...back in Myrtle
Beach!
My Dad (Streetie Benson)passed away in 2004, and my Mom
(Louise)lives in an assisted-living facility in Naples, near my
sister Vickie. At the age of 86, Mom's still doing well. I see her
as often as I can.
I have a wonderful job, many close friends and a loving family.
Life is good.
School??? Hamlet High from 1970-1972, Richmond Senior High
School from 1972-1974. Richmond Technical Institute...I mean
Richmond Technical College...no wait--Richmond Community
College from 1977-1979. Withdrew one quarter from graduation
with a 3.74 GPA because I was in the midst of
separation/divorce and decided that "DISCO WAS KING". (Not
really, but I sure had a good time!)
Employment, in order: Hardees, Woods (dime store, remember
those?) Hannah Pickett plant (no windows, I inspected
tablecloths and napkins), Gilead Manufacturing Company
(folded elastic on panties, no kidding.), Karen Gibson School of
Dance. (Praise her, she was my idol!) "High Steppin' Country"
at Magic Harbor, "Nashville Opry" in Myrtle Beach (a certain
Rockingham resident still owes me over $1000), "Ferlin Husky
Jubilee" (THAT "piece of work" owes me over $10000!),
Creative Arts Center, Artworks, Elite Dance Centre (finally, I
was a business partner!), and last... WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!
Woo Hoo! I think I'll stay where I am.
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