www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 15, 2006 - 39 Expect The Spectacular when talented seniors take the stage By Sabrina Byrnes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Spectacular, now in its eighth year, will be taking the stage Dec. 27 and 28 at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts with `Razzmatazz' as the theme of this years senior's variety show. The performers, who are all over the age of 50, will entertain the crowd in their sequined, beaded and feathered costumes. According to Norma Marsh Director of The Spectacular, some of the performers come from as far as St. Catharines, Bobcaygeon, Belleville, Guelph and Thornhill. "We all have a great time," said Marsh. The show features a variety of music and different styles of dance including Scottish country-dances, jazz, tap, clogging and Irish dance, as well as singing and comedy. The Spectacular is comprised of 25 different performances, including a per- formance from The Oakville Happy Tappers, which includes Marsh among its members. "I love the performing end of it, but I also like organizing it," said Marsh, reflecting on why she has directed The Spectacular for all these years. "It gives me a chance to use my imagination, to think of things to make it into a show rather than just one performance coming on after the other, thinking of how to dress up the stage," said Marsh. "I like seeing the magic of it and it all come together when I've finished it. It just makes me bubble up inside because it makes me feel good," she said. Marsh said she never had any formal dance training until she was 57 years old. She started at the age of four in Britain but it was very brief due to the dangerous circumstances at the time. "I was in war-time Britain so my mother decided after two classes we couldn't go anymore because it was too dangerous because of air raids and stuff like that," Marsh said. "So I never really got to do it until I was retiring, in fact." Heidi Knapp is the teacher of The Oakville Happy Tappers and, according to Marsh, she works them hard. Knapp doesn't go easy on them just because they are older. As a result, she makes the seniors feel young. Marsh said that when people associated seniors with the show they just assume that it's going to something very simple because they are older. "It's really hard work that we're doing," remarked Marsh. Jan Pike, 56, is the youngest dancer in the group. She has performed in The Spectacular for three years and also appreciates Knapp's teaching methods. "She really makes us work hard, and she makes us not think old," Pike stated. Pike hadn't danced for nearly two decades when she responded to Knapp's advertisement for auditions two years ago. "It's just a great opportunity to dance in my senior years," said Pike. "I never thought I would dance again, I've always loved it." Knapp thinks that dancing is for everyone -- regardless of their age. "I think it's great that performing is for all ages. Everybody loves to move to music and it's for fun and that's what it's all about," said Knapp, who is also choreographing the opening number of The Spectacular. The consensus among the dancers is that dancing makes them feel good and they have a lot of fun doing it. Lois Minard, age 73, has been dancing with The Oakville Happy Tappers for 16 years now. She is one of the original members of the group and enjoys the relationships with the other women in the group. "I love the camaraderie of all the girls. That's the most fun, just being with them and having a good time," Minard said. Irene Grant, 81, has been dancing with the group for six years now and also enjoys the interaction with the other dancers. "Well I just like the stimulation, the company, we have a lot of fun," Grant said. "Performing for seniors is very important to us," said Grant, to which the other dancers agreed. Grant also noted that dancing is great exercise. "It's great cardiovascular and mental everything, it addresses every part of the body," she said laughing. The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts is located at 130 Navy St. and the show times are 7 p.m. on Dec. 27 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 28. Jim Paulson from AM 740 will be this year's master of ceremonies. Tickets cost $18 and can be purchased by calling the centre's box office at 905815-2021 or by visiting the web site at www.oakville.ca. Gas Fireplace Repair and Installations We Service & Carry Parts for the following when we arrive at your door: Insta-Flame, Valor, Napoleon, Regency, Majestic, Heat-N-Glow, Heatolator, Selkirk, Vermont Casting, Osburn & Many Other Brands Problem Solving since 1982 Experience is the difference! 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