Bold and Blazen

COEUR d'ALENE - It wasn't just the flashy outfits, the screaming fans, the photos snapping as she sashayed by.

For Julia Parmann, the real appeal of the Red Hot Mamas was the other women throwing leg kicks over walkers in their gray wigs and thick nylons.

"For some of the women, this was their out. It was something special to them to be able to do," said Julia, a former member of the performance group that disbanded over a year ago. "No matter what life throws on you financially, emotionally, you had a support group. You had a group that was there for you."

Now that group is going to return - kind of.

And still doing leg kicks.

Missing the exercise, the applause and above all the camaraderie, former members of the Red Hot Mamas are forming a new group: The Blazen Divas.

"I can't say (where the name came from). I wasn't part of that decision," laughed John Parmann, in charge of the business end of the group. "They just had a strong desire to get back together in some form or fashion. The interest level among former members was still very high."

The concept is the same as before. A group of women of all ages and backgrounds strutting and kicking and dancing as one at regional parades and events.

Between appearances, Julia said, they will continue the Mamas' tradition of community service. They will be volunteering at Ironman, she said, and possibly perform at senior homes, or help out at soup kitchens.

"If they want to do ElderHelp, or the hospice, the food bank, whatever they want to do, it's their group," she said. "It's totally up to them."

Things are still in the planning stages.

A board of directors, including the Parmanns, have formed an LLC to cover insurance issues, a necessity for performing at parades with an army of women.

They held an informational meeting a few weeks ago, and more than 50 women attended.

"I'm overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support we're receiving right now," Julia said. "They were coming up and saying, 'You have no idea what this means to us. Thank you for stepping up and doing this.'"

And there's room for more. Plenty more.

The group will hold auditions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Trinity Lutheran Church gym on Fifth Street in Coeur d'Alene.

With current members ranging from 18 to 83, the Blazen Divas don't have rigid requirements.

"We welcome everybody. If you have physical abilities or no physical abilities," Julia said, adding that would-bes can choose to only participate in volunteer activities, or do performances as well. "We have a few cancer survivors who will be members of the group, we have single moms. Whatever you can imagine women go through in life by themselves, we've got them, too."

After spending most of her life in a body cast, Julia said that participating in the Red Hot Mamas sparked a new self esteem.

"I was a very kind of quiet, conservative person. My clothing consisted of a lot of suits and black and gray," she said. "I always looked at people and thought, 'Wow, I'm so embarrassed, I would never do that.'"

Now she's more outgoing, she said, and has no compunction about dancing in front of thousands of people.

Other members also improved physically, she added, mentioning a friend in her 60s who can kick over her head.

Even her mother in her 80s can keep up, Julia said.

"Any person you speak to from the Red Hot Mamas will tell you basically that their whole outlook and their personality has changed for the better," she said.

Julia, who would only say she is in her 50s, assured that newcomers will have plenty of time to build up their stamina.

No performances are scheduled yet, she said, but the group will start out small, sticking to local parades in Kootenai County.

"Don't feel intimidated or think you don't have the abilities," Julia said. "Just go in there and do it. You'll never know if you don't try."