54 Years Of Lathrop’s Stardust Revue

By Kendra Bobowick

Virginia “Ginny” Lathrop settled comfortably into her upper deck theater seat at the Edmond Town Hall above the bustle of dancers quickly filling the isles. Crowding before the stage and making last-minute adjustments to their sequined outfits, performers prepped for this year’s dress rehearsal for the 54th Stardust Revue by the Lathrop School of Dance. From little girls in tap shoes with ribbons around their waists to the mature troupe flaunting fishnets and long black gloves, rehearsals began last week for the weekend’s shows – five of them, performed Friday evening, and twice each on Saturday and Sunday, June 2-4.

Ginny peered from the upper deck to watch her students take the stage. Communicating through her assistants fitted with earpieces and microphones, Ginny conveyed her thoughts to Assistant Director Diane Wardenburg. As young girls worked through dance steps Ms Wardenburg encouraging them to overcome their first stunned moments on stage, and “smile!”

Footlights also lighted the way for more experienced dancers who offered the weekend’s audience a jaunty routine. A group of young girls, “Our Sweethearts,” donned their ballet shoes and twirled white umbrellas while magically swirling off stage to slip behind the curtains.

Older groups with a little more stage experience dressed in fitted black and fluorescent outfits moved through choreographed numbers that brought them rushing from the back of the stage to the edge and back again. The “Red Top Tappers” clicked to the upbeat musical accompaniment as their glittering bodices sparkled.

“Future Stars” and “Little Hula Cuties” looked like genies and young island girls in grass skirts, ready to entertain. “The Stardusters” performed Here’s To Our Auntie Mame while the “Junior Stardusters,” who were sheathed in west coast jazz costumes in sparkling nylons and golden gloves, struck vaudeville poses and moved to heavy jazz notes.

The very young “Disney Delights” wore bright feathers on their collars and in their hair to add flare to their performance. Additional groups included “Rock ‘n Rhythm” and “It’s Nice to Have Dolly Back In Town” with a handful of look-alikes in curly blond wigs and white cocktail dresses who stepped beneath the spotlight.

Providing further entertainment were the “Junior Lathrop Dancers,” “Little Polka Pretties,” “Energy Plus,” “In The Lathrop Spirit,” “Jazzin Down The Road With Energy” and “Jamin’ Taps.”

As the performers stole the audience’s attention, much was going on behind the scenes.

Proceeds from this year’s Sunday performance benefited Newtown Scholarship Fund. The donations were initiated by Mrs Lathrop’s late husband, Mack.

More than 30 acts in all were on stage at various points last Saturday and Sunday, offering jazz, tap, retro sounds, and dance routines accompanied by rock -n- roll and the Big Band sound. Anniversary awards went to students in celebration of anywhere between the “5 Year Award” to the “30 Something…”

Involved once again was the Lathrop staff of Miss Tamra, Miss Courtney, Miss Kaitlin, Miss Janine, Miss Suzanne, Miss Lynn, Miss Hilary, Miss Megan, Miss Lesley, Miss Diane and of course, Mrs Lathrop. Celebrating 25 years with the dance school is Miss Lynn.