Rae Ann Roberts (1930 - 2011) began dancing at the age of two and a half when her older sister wanted Rae Ann to come along to dance lessons at the Adelaide Bach Studio. Her father, Raymond, was a machinist with the Alton Yards and her mother Mabel stayed at home.
As an eight year old Rae Ann appeared at the Western Avenue Community Center in Adelaide Bach's recital. Less than five years later, Rae Ann was teaching her own students. Her first studio was in the basement of the family home at 902 N. Oak. Later she had a studio at 106 E Mulberry and a second studio in Pontiac. Rae Ann's parents must have been very supportive of her dancing -- during her high school years, Rae Ann's mother helped out as her business manager while Rae Ann taught dance classes every day after school and all day Saturday. Sundays were reserved for her own lessons in Chicago during her high school years.
In 1949 Rae Ann flew to Hollywood for dance instruction at the University of Arts and in 1950 travelled to New York to gain additional training at the University of Arts in New York City. In Chicago she studied at the Merriel Abbott Dancers, the Variety School of Dance and the Arthur Murray studio.
Rae Ann was just 17 when she organized and presented her studio's first recital, which featured 100 students. That year Rae Ann also won a competition in Chicago for her tango dancing and on another occasion was named in the "Top of the Teens" in the Chicago Tribune. At the age of 19, Rae Ann was organizing recitals and benefits at which her 200 students performed.
Rae Ann married Gail G Pitts in 1960 and only briefly had an ad in the Pantagraph for a dancing studio under her married name. In the 1980's her photo appeared in the Pantagraph along with her husband's when they were mobile homes salespeople together. It is sad to think that Rae Ann Roberts gave up a successful career of dance and personal expression for married life.
Rae Ann Pitts died in Arizona on June 26, 2011 on the same date as her husband. No details of their deaths were found on-line.