Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Silver and Spice, a tap-dancing group based at West Valley College, includes (front row, from left) Ginger McDonald, Dinah McCluskey, Josie Oberlercher, Joanne Cerny, (back row, left) Barbara McDonald, Maxine Jolliff, June Rabidou and Arvis Justi.

Dancers show their stuff

Physical exercise becomes entertaining

By Chantal Lamers

As the group's name indicates, the tap dancers in Silver and Spice are all mothers and grandmothers. The group began at West Valley College six years ago and performs at retirement homes and rehabilitation centers throughout the county.

Ginger Taylor McDonald, one of the group's founders, says the dancers originally came together in 1991 when they enrolled in Julie Lowry's tap-dance class. Lowry has been teaching for more than 20 years.

After McDonald put together a seniors tennis program, she decided it was important to bring other senior women together.

The nine women are all nearing or over age 60. But McDonald says this doesn't stop the group from performing at least once a month and practicing twice a week.

"It's great when you do it for physical exercise, but when you do it to entertain someone, it's so much more," she adds.

Arvis Justi, who teaches meditation, says that she joined because she finds tap dancing has similar benefits to meditation.

"It makes you think. It requires a great deal of attention, and the music just somehow ties it all together," Justi says.

McDonald says that this isn't the first tap-dancing experience for most of the women. "We all had visions of being Shirley Temples someday, but then we became grandmothers."

Now, McDonald says, the women have a chance to dance again.

Lowry says there has been a resurgence of interest in tap dancing around the country. As a result, West Valley College is offering a summer dance class for intermediate and advanced tap dancers. The classes begin June 17 and 18 and will be held on Tuesdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the WVC dance studio.

"The six-week course will offer a series of new routines and performance skills. It's fun, challenging, and it's a great workout," Lowry says.

Jea Greenhalgh, retired Pacific Bell employee, says that the audience is always very enthusiastic.

"It's a great volunteer effort. We recently incorporated the macarena into our routine. Everyone has a chance to tap their toes, wave their arms or just keep time to the music. It's very therapeutic for everyone."

The group has performed before Saratoga Rotary Club, at Our Lady of Fatima in Saratoga and at the Los Gatos Rehabilitation Center. For more information about the summer class, contact Lowry at 741-2523.

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