OUR MEMBERS:

 

		Cherie. I was in LA, sitting in Schwab’s Drug Store at the corner of Hollywood and Vine … sipping a soda. Had on my pink sweater, which had shrunk in the wash.      A Gentleman came up to me and said I was the best dancer he had ever seen and wouldn’t I like to be in the movies, be rich, be famous, be gorgeous, wear fur.      I said “no, I would rather be in Portland Oregon with the Portland Tap Connection” and that is where I have been ever since.      I would like to thank my orthodontist for the straight teeth.
		Helen. Helen began dancing at the age of 4. She learned ballet with Elaine Archibald in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), as well as tap, mime and Scottish dancing. At the age of 10, Helen performed for Sir Roy Wellenski, the Governor of Rhodesia, and was part of the ballet ensemble for the opera “Die Fleidermause” After moving to the USA, Helen did not resume dancing until about 12 years ago. She enrolled in tap classes at several studios in Portland, including those of Terry Brock, Judy Tibbles and Sue Ceswick and has danced with the Portland Tap Connection since 1998.
		Jeannie. Jeannie started with ballet classes at the age of 5 and then added tap lessons during grade school. In college, she took modern dance classes. Jeannie has studied jazz, tap and ballet as an adult.
		Joanne. Joanne is thrilled to be performing with the Portland Tap Connection. She grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Joanne started tapping at age 17, and hasn't stopped since. Her Portland-area tap teachers have included Sally Mack, Cindy Brenn, Ruth Sanborn, Judy Tibble, and Cherie Cheney Nomura. Joanne also has the good fortune of performing with the Skylark Tappers. She and her husband Victor will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in May 2006. They have two beautiful daughters, Samantha and Kathy.
		Juanita. I would like to thank Mom and Dad. Thank you for enduring tough times and making sacrifices for me. Thank you for doing the best you could as parents. The music and dance lessons and tickets to theatre have had a positive impact on me. And I would not be doing this without the loving support of my dear husband. There are also many other people who have helped me along the way. A special thanks goes out to Bubba Gong.
		Karlyn.
		Lydia.
		Marge. Marge is the mother of four boys, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Marge is a “semi-retired” audiologist. For more than forty years, she has been a liturgical musician, playing both piano and organ. In addition to her hobbies of dance and reading, Marge’s new passion is quilting.
		Marsha. Music and performing have always been in my background. My Mother had my two younger sisters and I in a singing trio before I was in grade school. She also taught us all to play piano. Comedy and melodrama being the better parts of my nature, I dropped singing and piano lessons and took up acting. Once a Thespian always a Thespian, whether in grade school or local little theatre. At the tender age of 30, I realized a life-long dream and became a tap dancer. Six months later, I was part of a duo named the “Gingersnaps” who won second place in a talent contest tap dancing. I have never looked back.
		Pegg. Pegg started tap and ballet lessons at the age of 2. She did chorus work in both children and adult productions by the St. Louis Municipal Opera. She performed in College and University Reviews and was a finalist in the Miss Missouri Contest. After moving to Portland Oregon, Pegg was one of the original members of the Playbox Players, which evolved into the present Lady Bug Theatre.
		Ruth. Ruth was born in Tennessee and moved to Oregon at an early age, where she began formal music and dance training. Local training has been with Dottie Fields, Cherie Cheney Nomura and June Taylor. Ruth credits her mother who was a music instructor, for her love and appreciation of music and dance. She thanks her family for their support and encouragement for cheering her on. “What a gray world it would be without music and dance!”

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