Since November, the Village Tappers have been teaching people how to tap.
When Jane Saunders arrived in Florida, she didn’t want to take a break from tapping because she still had a lot of work to accomplish.
She founded the Village Tappers in November, and things have been going well since then.
The performance team of roughly 12 ladies practiced on May 28 at the Aviary Recreation Center in preparation for the Cabaret Showcase on June 12 at 6 p.m. at the Paradise Regional Recreation Complex.
The Tappers performed a song to the tune of “I Love a Piano,” as well as a cowboy-themed routine.
The performance troupe presented a few shows in the residents’ driveways prior to the Cabaret Showcase gig.
“We look forward to any performance,” group member Lisa Malorzo said. “We want to show people what we are about.”
Residents can learn everything there is to know about tapping, from technique to routines, but if they want to perform in front of an audience, they can join the performance team.
“I remind them to be strong, to not give up,” said Saunders, of the Village of Chatham. “They are warriors. They’re the best. It’s like a sisterhood.”
The Tappers began by meeting for an hour, then added another hour, and finally split the time into two two-hour sessions three times a week.
“It keeps us sharp,” Saunders said.
The group meets at the Aviary on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Sundays at Saddlebrook Recreation Center and Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. in a yet-to-be-determined venue. Saunders expressed her hope that the Tappers would be able to perform at the Savannah Center in the future.
Saunders began tap dancing in the second grade and has been teaching dance for over 40 years. Her confidence was shaken for a while, but she never lost her passion for dancing.
“There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how great a teacher she is,” Malorzo said. “She’s inspirational, never condescending.”
Janet Althen has experience with ballroom and Latin dancing, but when she moved to The Villages, she didn’t have a dance partner. She discovered the Village Tappers after seeking out alternative dance options.
“Any bit of a dance background helps, but making my feet move (for tap routines) is different,” said Althen, of the Village Rio Ponderosa. “It’s like drumming with your feet. I connect with the music.”
Althen has appreciated Saunder’s advice over the last few months.
“She’s a very unique and loving person,” Althen said. “Seeing those without dance experience grow has been amazing. It’s because of her that people come in and feel welcome.”
Malorzo tapped from kindergarten to college, but then stopped for 40 years.
“We’re rekindling our youth,” said Malorzo of the Village of Linden. “It’s a great experience in our lives.”
It took a while to get used to returning to the world of tap.
“It’s totally different,” Malorzo said. “I’m 40 years older. This is as challenging as it was as a beginner. I like learning new steps and the challenge of it.”
– Attributed Source, The Villages Daily Sun