September Swan Song?

"Summer's End" Showcase at Mission Oaks on September 18, 2011, will be a finale of all sorts.  The show is dedicated to the memory of LaVern Mecham who taught Tap at Mission Oaks from 1985 until 2008. LaVern's Classy Tappers will dance as will all of Carol Stone's tap class groups.  Hi Steppers, TNTs, Rhythm and Shoes, The Elite Feet, and Carol's own Hats & Taps.  Line dancers and musical soloists will also perform.                                                                       

Carol must hide her twin because she can't possibly do everything that she does, and continues to do, with one brain and one body! 

Carol, a Classy Tapper in more ways than one, has been teaching tap at Mission Oaks for over a decade herself and has sparked many a tap fan!  Indeed, this sixth annual showcase, as well as all prior shows at Mission Oaks, has been put on, organized and directed by Carol.  Many helpers lend a hand to help pull this off, but with Carol as the driving force. Or, dancing force.  She retires from teaching Tap at Mission Oaks this month and "Summer's End" may be her final show here. Ya never know with Carol, she continues to teach, choreograph, perform, and practice, practice, practice with her own group, the fortunate ladies called Hats & Taps.

Carol's classes will be greatly missed!  Her much appreciated teaching style has been mentioned before in this blog and various news articles over the years.  Her mantra, "SMILE and HAVE FUN!" has been imprinted on many tapping minds and feet.

Monday night's Hi Steppers will preform their last time together but most of them have morphed into Rhythm and Shoes and will tap forward with much fun doing shows around town and keeping many of Carol's dances alive.

Come join the music and dance fun at Mission Oaks Community Center, 4701 Gibbons Dr., Sunday, September 18, 2011.  Donations will be accepted for the Mission Oaks Holiday Meal Program.

Jazzy Spats

Hats & Taps performed at Carlton Plaza on August 16, 2011.  Linda 2's new tap spats and wrist bands added a jazzy touch to our sparkly costumes.  A little rusty from a lot of time off just transferred to laughs galore.  The audience was wonderful, as usual.  We're glad to be back in the groove and giving smiles all around!

 Ruthie runs the show during costume changes and supports everyone in ways we can't thank her enough for!

Connie, Linda 2, Rhoda, Ruthie, Liz, Lois, Linda 1, Carol

Hats With Hearts

Hats and Taps on may 24th, 2011
This show was for the American Cancer Society Survivors and Caregivers.
Carol's gift to the group, these purple vests, was truly a gift from the heart and they look great!

In the Pink

St. Marks Church put Hats & Taps in the Pink!  What a fun show!  Thanks for having us on the 21st of May! Thank you too, for treating us to a wonderful quiche and fruit luncheon after the show!  

It sure hit the spot!

We always enjoy it when the audience claps and has a good time with us. Your smiles and comments were very much appreciated!  That rosy glow wasn't just from the costumes!

We loved dancing L-O-V-E on your wonderful stage!

We would have loved to see the other dancers but could tell from the sound of the music and applause that they were big hits!

Ruthie with Arlene and Marcia. As always, thanks again for being our entertainment backbone!

Spring Luncheon

Hats and Taps Tri-annual birthday celebration.

Birthday girls, Carolyn, Linda 2 and Liz celebrated on May 17th.

 Carol held a candle back at the studio, not venturing too far from recovering Doug.

 Marie and Rhoda

 Ruth and Linda 2

 Lois, Linda 1 and Connie

 It was great to see Carol 2, here with Lois!

 Carolyn and Ruth

Connie and Liz showing cards

Cinco in May - oh

Vince's Restaurant hosted SIRS and on the second, kicked off the first of cinco in May shows.  A busy month for Hats & Taps!  Carol continued our Western Fling and Fantastic Forties numbers.  We appreciated the audience joining in with clapping to the cowboy beats.  Their enthusiastic responses plus cookies and ice cream after were a very welcome reward!  Thanks again, SIRS!  And Vince's! 

Friday the 13th found us at a favorite place!  So fitting to show our love starting off with L-O-V-E!  Orange Grove School's audience sparkles more than our costumes!  Our hearts feel huge here, and that warm glow we're left with lasts a long time!  We LOVE you Orange Grove!

Just look at those lovely smiles!

Shimmery silver - so fun!

Boy From New York City

More sparkling smiles!

New York, New York!

While we change costumes, we have to say that we missed our leader, Carol, terribly! She wanted to be here so badly, but although hubby Doug is recovering well from surgery, Carol needed to be close by. 

Choo Choo Ch' Boogie!

More choo choo

Connie stepped in to take charge for Carol.  She stepped in quite nicely!

Carolyn

Liz

Marie

Linda 2

Marie, Connie, Liz & Linda 2 having fun!

Rhoda & Lois sharing that Funglow!

Linda 1 & Carolyn kicking up their heels!

You go girls!

Lois gets a special dance!  Carol 2 in the background.  

C2 played our music and we appreciated her help and company more than she knows!

Another special dance for Ruthie!  Our Entertainer plus!  We're so lucky to have you!

These group photos were at the insistence of some audience participants.  We're so glad!

Thank you, Eric, for taking the pictures!

The next day, May 14th, we repeated some performances for the ladies luncheon at the Advent Lutheran Church.  Thank you so much, Ladies, for making us feel welcome and for all the complimentary comments!  It was a cold, blustery day but we warmed up quickly in your company! 

Coming up on Saturday, the 21st, we will be at St. Mark's Church.  We look forward to that and the 24th takes Hats & Taps to Citrus Heights Community Clubhouse for the American Cancer Society Survivors and Caregivers event.  We love what we do!  Many thanks to everyone who helps make these shows possible!

From Fantastic Forties to Top Hats and Tea

The Salvation Army: Sacramento Citadel Corps gave us a very warm welcome with hot tea and sandwiches after our show on April 29th.  What a fitting way to celebrate 

William and Kate's royal wedding day!

Marie, Lois, Liz, Carol, Connie, Carolyn & Linda 1

Thank you so much, Becky, for dancing with us!
We appreciated the addition of your dazzling smile and elegant style!

Linda 2 had another appointment to rush off to so was out of costume before the camera caught up with her.

It was a wonderful pleasure to have our own Carol 2 back with us to help with the music while Margaret recovers. You looked marvelous, dahrling,..as did Carolyn.

We truly felt appreciated and pampered with parting gifts as well.  This Salvation Army group was tops with us as they carried off their Top Hat theme to a tea!  Ta, ta and thank you!

April 19th Hats & Taps tip toed into Eskaton Monroe Lodge to dance for NuMaids.  Dressing on the 3rd floor and taking the elevator down to Level 1 to dance was a new experience, as was tapping Cho Choo Ch' Boogie first time for an audience!  Some of Linda 2's extended family was there to give us support and fill in as "Bugle Boy"!  We always appreciate our volunteer Bugle boys!

Thank you, NuMaids, for so many positive comments and sharing Carol's Fantastic Forties numbers along with the Western Fling. We had fun!