Roller Granny, roller diva

Split interview with Mam-Zee Denise, 68, queen of the Bois de la Cambre skaters BRUSSELS ▼ Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which appeared first, the rink or Mam-Zee Denise? To ask the question is not to answer it, so much have both become part of the scenery at the Gymnase, located in the Bois de la Cambre. Today, Mrs. Denise, who makes no secret of her 68 years, continues to give roller-skating lessons to children. And while generations have succeeded one another on the concrete, Mam-Zee remains there every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon. On the terrace side, her husband Michel, who has admired her for 50 years, sips drinks while taking in her compulsory artistic figures. "Skating is her whole life. She was the only one in Europe who could perform a pirouette on the tip of her skate. Truth be told, she's the Merckx of hard work, a real workhorse," he says with wonder to those at the edge of the rink who marvel at this bleach-blond lady. Through hard work, this icon clinched the Belgian championship title in 1949 and, in 1983, that of best Roller disco dancer. Not to mention four medals in classical skating throughout her career. She did not yield to the siren calls of American managers, nor to the Viennese Revue (the equivalent of Holiday on Ice shows) who pursued her, delighted to discover this true zinneke skating gracefully to her own choreography. So, remaining here on her Cambre concrete, she enjoys recounting one of her fondest memories. And Michel eagerly chimes in: "It was in 1983: her performance at RTB's Studio 6 on the show Chansons à la carte in front of comedian Edouard Caillau, Adamo, and Annie Cordy. Everyone was stunned by her performance." And Mrs. Denise adds: "But destiny wanted me to stay in Belgium. And life gave me skates instead of feet. In fact, the only major fall I ever had was while walking in street shoes, knocked over by a dog. Ever since, I'm only comfortable on my concrete." And Michel adds: "And in front of her beloved public!" The Roller Parade from afar Only feeling comfortable on this Bois de la Cambre rink, Mam-Zee Denise will not take part in this summer's Roller Parades, but will nevertheless go and cheer on the many fans of her favorite sport starting the first Friday of July. At her age, she prefers not to take risks on streets and avenues that are not smooth or regular enough for her. But one thing is certain, she stands ready to train, if asked, the rollercops currently being recruited. And why not future generations...