American Masters

Well Porgy and Bess came and performed in San Francisco, and someone told me they were looking for a dancer. So I thought, hmmm... and they would pay much more and I would get a chance to travel around the United States and maybe get a chance to go to Europe. I auditioned for them, and they accepted me. I sang the role Ruby but the truth is I couldn't really sing. I mean, I could sing, but I wasn't a trained singer. I really was a dancer, and at least once every two or three weeks, one of the singers would say to me, "Maya, I'm sorry to tell you, but you flatted that G," or "you flatted that A." I didn't even know I was singing in the alphabet. I just sang the role.