|
Owner 469-744-4471 |
|
|
| I am not ashamed of the gospel (Rom 1:16) | ||
Site Map
Home
From 1978 to 1979 Alex performed on stage in the Music Hall Follies with his act, "The Wacky Illwaco Brothers," in Seattle, Washington. If you click on the picture a streaming video made from a super 8 film will launch. Because of poor quality in the film, the digital was made with the best quality. Viewing time is 4:10.
For the 1979 show Alex learned stagecraft working backstage, building scenery and running the flyloft. Greg Thompson hired him to shoot a 5 minute Super 8 film for promotion. The film is 30 years old and not as easy to see, but if you are interested, click on the picture above. |
About UsAlexander Douglas discovered acrobatic stunting when he was a young gymnast performing on stage professionally in the vaulting comedy act, "The Wacky Illwacos" that he put together with 5 other Seattle gymnasts for producer Greg Thompson's show, "The Music Hall Follies in 1978. He saw Igor Ashkinazi perform with Stacie Tutton on the Mike Douglas Show. While working nightly with professional dancers and models, he saw how acrobatics could be used in a Broadway style musical. Alex moved to New Jersey in 1980 after the producer was fired by the main sponsor. He contacted Igor in New Orleans but was discouraged from going down by Igor. Instead he coached at Surgent's Elite School of Gymnastics. He developed his first acrobatic team, taking them to competition in Ohio and the Super Clinic with Steve Elliot. While in New Jersey he watched as many Broadway shows as he could afford. The Catholic Parochial School system in New Jersey is big on cheerleading competition. Alex ran a successful side business of cheerleading clinics he called, "AcroCheer." While at Surgent's, Alex wrote and produced two school shows. The first was in the gym called, "Heart of a Gymnast". The second, "The Adventures of Alice," was performed on a high school stage. In 1985 Igor, who had left New Orleans for Las Vegas, returned and Alex moved to Louisiana. There he trained as an Elite Mixed Pair and competed in the 1986 USSAF Nationals. He also became a believer in Jesus Christ. So after the Nationals, Alex left the industry to become a disciple of the Lord. That led him to Dallas, Texas in 1990 to study at Christ for the Nations. While a student there, he realized that God was not calling him into the professional ministry. So, he began teaching gymnastics at Trevino's in Lancaster in 1990. As a requirement for his studies he had to spend a summer in Israel. When he returned in 1991, his job was given to another instructor. Alex met his wife, Linda in 1992 and they were married in 1993. Meanwhile, he worked in Carollton at Half In Half Out Gymnastics. When Alex and Linda bought their house in Cedar Hill in 1995 he went back to work for Trevino's. In 1997 he began Texas's first acrobatic gymnastics team program. Alex trained and took athletes to the USAG Nationals from Trevino's until 2004. During that time other clubs in Texas took an interest in starting acrobatic programs. With the building interest, he formed the non profit organization called, Texas Acro, to govern the competition in Texas that would lead athletes to the National Championships. After the 2004 Nationals, his strongest athlete, Brandi Lewis, retired from competition. Alex continued the program with new kids, but made the decision to start his own business through the Cedar Hill Rec Center in 2006. The Recreation Center is a multi-sport facility which restricted the growth of the Stunt Gym. Alex moved his prgram into the facility rented by the Twister Spirit Athletic Cheer Squad in October 2008. Classes are already expanding. |
Alex and Jan competed in the 1986 USSAF Nationals. A video of their balance routine was performed on stage. Click the picture for the video. The routine is 2:30 long.
2004 competitors Brandi Lewis, Sarah Sevick and Sarah Goldmann perform their Dynamic routine when you click the picture. Viewing time 2:30 |