OUR MEMBERS:

 

		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 Tibbles, and Cherie Cheney Nomura. Joanne also has the good fortune of performing with the Skylark Tappers. She and her husband Victor celebrated 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 your best 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 many other people who have helped me along the way. A special thanks goes out to Bubba Gong.
		Judy. Artistic Director/Choreographer, is the recipient of the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Dance Coalition of Oregon. She teaches tap in many local programs and promotes visiting artists and events to help keep Portland's tap community strong. Her tap dance history includes serving on the Board of Directors for Rhapsody in Taps in Los Angeles, volunteer work for the Portland International Tap Festival, the creation of two tap dance story plays with Dede Priest, dance studies with many renowned tap artists, and the enjoyment of a special group of people in the world who share the urge to stomp the floor. Judy thanks the Portland Tap Connection for giving her an opportunity to work with this group of special performers in tap dance, creating a variety of programs to share with the audience.
		Karlyn.
		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.
		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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