Living in Newtown, residents can count on certain things that happen at the same time every year. Memorial Day marks the changing of the flag on our town’s flagpole and for 72 years every first weekend of June, students at Lathrop School of Dance (LSOD) have lit up the stage at Edmond Town Hall.

This year was no different. LSOD students danced with their hearts strong through their tap, ballet, jazz and hip hop numbers for audiences filled with families and friends at the 72nd Stardust Revue.

Throughout the two halves of the program, an underlying theme of “blessings all around us” shined at the audience. LSOD Director-Owner Tamra Saric chose routines for dancers to gracefully move across the stage, demonstrate hip hop jump and jive moves, all while having fun and radiating smiles of joy starting with the “babies” aging 4 and 5 all the way to the “Divas” and LSOD’s 2024 Stardusters.

Feelings of enthusiasm, pride and gratification for a dance well performed glowed from dancers as they took their bows.

To enhance the feeling of being blessed, closing the first half was a first time performed special dance made up of eight sets of LSOD moms and daughters in a beautiful contemporary number choreographed by teacher and Starduster Miss Heather McKeown. The routine emits the feelings of a mother-child relationship, heart to heart, with blessings bestowed upon us. At the close of the number, Miss Tamra was met at center stage by her daughter/student, Mila, with hugs and twirls. This dance not only showed the blessings of family, but also the long-standing family and traditions of Lathrop School of Dance.

The Jr Stardusters were put to task during the first show of the weekend. Opening the second half dancing to “Wooden Soldiers,” a take on the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show, their music stopped shortly after it started, yet their taps kept moving as the audience chimed in clapping to the beat while keeping the dancer’s steps in time. The number finished with a “bang” and a systematic line drop of the wooden soldiers followed by an overwhelming roar and applause. It was a dance well performed for a totally engaged audience.

Ginny and Mack Lathrop founded LSOD 72 years ago setting a style and tradition that has been carried forward by former owner Diane Wardenburg and continues with Miss Tamra and husband Marko. Every year, the Stardust Revue leads to foot tapping entertainment, much applause and enjoyment from the audience watching their children, family and friends dance.

But something greater happens at the end of each show as the crowd exits and conversations are overheard, “these kids get better every year.” This is a testament to Miss Tamra and her teaching staff working nine months to prepare their students for the annual Stardust Revue. At the end of the weekend, audiences once again saw “the best show” ever.