“If I were his maid, I wouldn’t like him, either!”
Taking Credit
In our October issue, Power House of Dance owner Shella Sattler flashed her million-dollar smile and waxed poetically about her Mavs Dancers and her young protégées. Some of Sattler’s former employees tell a different story.
I WAS THE CAPTAIN AND CHOREOGRAPHER the 2001-2002 Dallas Mavericks Dancers, which were rated number one in the NBA. I did not return this year, along with nine other dancers, for the same reasons I left the Power House of Dance this past May.
Shella Sattler has never choreographed any Mavericks Dancers routines, but she continues to take credit for someone else’s creativity. The people who need to be recognized for the outstanding choreography of the Mavericks Dancers in the last five seasons are Stephanie DiBiase, Roger Lee, Kim McSwain, Brooke Wendal, and Nick Zbrowski. This is not a personal thing against Ms. Sattler. This is about professionalism.
STEPHANIE DIBIASE
Dallas
I AM THE FORMER APPEARANCE DIRECTOR FOR the Dallas Mavericks Dancers, as well as the original staff member of the Power House of Dance (just resigned this year after seven years). I was alerted to your article by many of my former Mavericks Dancers, and I read it with alarm.
Shella Sattler may have cleaned a routine or two, but she has never been the creative force behind the Mavericks Dancers. She has, however, taken the credit again and again. Furthermore, I can say with complete accuracy that she has never been to the
ghetto. Hip-hop dance is a cultural signature of style that originally manifested out of inner-city youth striving for something positive out of their dismal situations. I am sure that many people in poverty would not appreciate the connection that she claims to have with them.
ASHLEY ROCKER
Dallas
Yes, Your Maid Does Hate You
In October’s “Does Your Maid Hate You?” our anonymous writer dissected the relationship the rich have with their domestic help, concluding that his maid probably does hate him—but not for the right reasons.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE WRITER wouldn’t want anyone to know his real name. What a snob!
I’d like Mr. Anonymous to know not all maids live in a shelter. I clean houses, and I live in a beautiful two-story home in Stonebridge Ranch in McKinney. I have been elected and served as a county commissioner. I have served as president of several boards and clubs and actually have a college education.
Why do I clean houses? Because I am good at it, and it’s very rewarding to do for others what they haven’t the time to do for themselves. My point is that his article is very degrading to people trying to make an honest living. Just because they don’t socialize with the la-te-das doesn’t mean they ought to be pitied. He is the one I feel sorry for. I’m not sure if I were his maid I would like him, either!
DEBBIE VAUGHN
McKinney
Drama in the ER
Deputy editor Tim Rogers followed a Parkland ER doctor through his 12-hour shift. Rogers’ behind-the-scenes look at one of the busiest—and best—hospitals in the country did not pull punches.
THE ONLY TRUE INSIGHT GAINED BY READING Tim Rogers’ article, “The Real ER,” is that the author showed an alarming lack of compassion and understanding for the population we serve. While Mr. Rogers stole the humanity from those seeking our care by labeling them according to their appearance or illness, we see each person who is wheeled or walks through our doors as a precious individual who is loved and who has lived. “Swollen Feet,” “Bilateral Breast Pain Woman,” and “The Polar Bear,” have names, have families, have histories. A competent piece of journalism lacking of preconceived cynicism would have portrayed these facts.
Similarly, if Mr. Rogers had conducted adequate research, perhaps he would have omitted his biased statement that many are “unemployed.” In fact, a significant percentage of our patients are the working poor. Laboring for longer hours and lesser wages, this hardworking population builds our roads, cares for our children, and provides our meals without the benefit of insurance. This is not their problem. This is our problem.
I encourage Mr. Rogers to ask his friends, his neighbors, and his family if they know someone who owes their life to Parkland. The answer will be yes, and they will have a name.
RON J. ANDERSON, M.D.
President and chief executive officer
Parkland Health & Hospital System
ROGERS REPLIES: During the 12 hours I spent in Parkland’s ER, I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible. If I had wanted to print patients’ real names, hospital policy would have required that I get signed releases giving me permission to do so. So I gave the patients sobriquets both out of necessity and to maintain their anonymity. The Polar Bear, for instance, had been brought to Parkland by the police. She was intoxicated, violent, and had to be tied to her gurney. Even if I had been allowed to interview her, I doubt she or her family would have wanted her name to appear in D Magazine.
Finally, I’m sure a “significant percentage” of your patients are the working poor. I wrote that “many of them [are] uninsured, unemployed.” I stand by that statement.
Home Sweet Home
For the second year, D Magazine celebrated residential architecture in Dallas. “House by a Pond” was the winner.
DALLAS’ CULTURAL AMBITIONS HAVE LONG been expressed by its parade of residential architecture. Your periodic “Home of the Year” piece checks a vital city pulse. Thanks for strengthening the city’s architectural self-awareness through this program. And, of course, thanks for honoring the “House by a Pond.” My gratitude to Adam McGill for his well-crafted, sensitive writing, and my applause to your graphics people for such a handsome spread.
In the interest of seeing the “Home of the Year” program thrive in the future, I have a suggestion: please consider running a small photo of each category winner. While it is a plus for these architects to have their names listed in the magazine, I fear this mention alone will not be perceived as compensating the time and expense of putting together their submissions.
In a sense, we all still live out here on the prairie. Know that your efforts at civilizing this place are appreciated.
MAX LEVY
Architect, “House by a Pond”
Kind Words from Cowtown
In Taste, our monthly dining section, Nancy Nichols revisited Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Fort Worth.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT write-up in the October issue. We always look to your publication for what is hip and new in the area. Thanks for all the support.
MARY-MARGARET SPIKES
Lonesome Dove Western Bistro
Top Docs
Our annual cover story revealed the best 381 doctors in Dallas. To compile the list, we surveyed more than 6,000 physicians, who voted on their peers in 31 specialties.
DR. PHILIP RASKIN IS CONSIDERED ONE OF
the best physicians in the field of diabetes, but he was not included on your list. He runs the University Diabetes Treatment Center at Parkland Health and Hospital System, and he’s a well-known physician in the field of clinical research. Several of the physicians on this list trained under him, and those same doctors look to him for advice.
BETTE NEWTON
Grand Prairie
EDITOR’S NOTE: In our October cover story on the “Best Doctors in Dallas,” gastroenterologist Dr. John Secor should have been listed as John William Secor, M.D. James Alan Davidson, M.D., who is also a vascular surgeon, should have been listed under general surgery. Under colonic/rectal surgery, we misspelled Said Hashemipour, M.D. We regret the errors.
NEXT MONTH
Our annual Best & Worst issue, featuring our picks and pans in local politics, media, food, sports, crime, and leisure.
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