Tapping into two decades

The room grows still, the lights brighten and the music begins.

In waltzes, prances, boogies and dances a group of ladies costumed in colorful, sparkling and ruffled attire, ready to perform a number of musical numbers to bring the joy of performing arts to their audience.

"We all love to dance," Marion Brendis, 87, said Thursday.

Brendis is a founding member of the Lake City Tappers, a local senior dance troupe that will celebrate its 20th anniversary Wednesday. The Tappers had its 200th show Aug. 12, during which a special performance was delivered at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.

"You see smiles on their faces and tapping to the music and that makes you feel good," Brendis said. "If someone was just staring into space and no smiles, it would be totally different, but it's not because they do enjoy the performances. That gives me a good feeling. I'm sure the other ladies, too."

Brendis loves being a tapper for a few reasons.

"The dancing keeps us fit for our age, that’s a big thing," she said. "The other thing is it brings joy to our hearts to just see the enjoyment people get out of it."

The group was formed by Navarre Glassman, a former teacher and senior tap dance group director who moved to Coeur d'Alene from Las Vegas in 2003. Glassman also produced, directed and choreographed talent, variety and fashion shows in the Silver State.

She brought her showtime talent to Lake City Center, where the dance class she taught transformed into the Lake City Tappers. Glassman served as director until 2021 when Parkinson's disease forced her to step down. She tapped fellow Tapper and Dancing Grammies clogger Bunny Tull to direct the group, along with founding members and producers Gloria Delgado and Rae Tardini.

The present director/choreographer is Stephanie Koennel, who was crowned Miss Senior Idaho America in 2011.

"Stephanie has done a remarkable job in leading our group," Delgado said. "She keeps our dance routines fresh with varied popular music mixed in with some golden oldies."

Vocalist Mary Ann Taibi added her voice to the mix when she joined the group in 2005. Taibi has performed with the Tuxedo Junction band, a Taste of Jazz and has appeared at several Coeur d'Alene City Park events. She preceded Koennel's accolades in the Miss Senior Idaho America contest when she won the title in 2010.

The ladies have had some great times at state fairs, the Festival of Trees, the Elks Club, local senior centers, centenarians' birthday shows and local civic affairs, Delgado said.

She said turning 20 can be an exciting time for many, but for the Tappers, it's an era filled with bittersweet memories of vibrant fellow dancers no longer able to perform and some who are no longer around.

"We are grateful to our founder, Navarre Glassman, and the charter members of the original Lake City Tappers," Delgado said. "Without their hard work and dedication in the troupe, we would not be celebrating our 20th anniversary and 200th show."

Delgado said Tappers members share a special bond as they have worked toward their founder's goal of supporting women and children's charities.

"We do this by 'dancing for charity,'" she said.

She said the ladies have a diversified background of music, dance and theater experience.

"We all have a lot to share," Delgado said. "With our combined love of the arts and theater, we have formed a common bond. Excitement fills the air when planning our shows. All shows are special to us."

    The Lake City Tappers troupe participated in its first parade during Hayden Days in 2005. The Tappers will turn 20 Wednesday.
  

    The core group of the Lake City Tappers, founded in 2004: Front row, from left: Marion Brendis, Bunny Tull. Back row, from left: Founder Navarre Glassman, Alberta Pehrson, Elaine Gotfredson, Rae Tardini, Rae Jean Hennig, Virginia Alberts and Gloria Delgado.