The lights dimmed, the Stardust theme resonated, and the 66th Annual Stardust Revue opened at Edmond Town Hall last Saturday afternoon (June 2), bringing Broadway to Newtown once again.

The Lathrop School of Dance (LSOD) presented its Revue, four shows in two days, highlighting cuddly ducks entering their first year of dance, shuffling on through two spectacular halves, showcasing young dancers and, of course, the ever-so-talented Stardusters.

Leading the Stardusters with a stunning performance was Colby Lemieux, celebrating 25 years of dance with LSOD. Opening her number with a solo dance she choreographed, Miss Colby's love of dance and movement shined through as she enjoyed every moment. Turning it up a notch, Miss Colby was joined by fellow faculty member, Miss Tamara Saric, and they danced their hearts out together.

To further the excitement on stage, three more members of the dance school - Samantha Macchiaverna, Megan Sajovic and Kara Clement, with a combined 51 years of dance experience with LSOD - helped rock the stage and bring down the house.

As the audience watched the three-, four-, and five-year-olds on stage move their feet as the little dancers watch the butterflies on the screen and walls, the joy for parents was to see how cute their children are. As the show continued, those same parents watched the progression and maturity of dancers who have grown up through the years dancing at LSOD, as they, too, started off as cuddly ducks. From babies and youth to teens, adults, and the Divas, LSOD brings dance to life.

Whether it is a ballet, jazz, tap, disco, or hip hop number, the dancers at LSOD put their hearts and souls into their routine as they move across the stage. "A Ballet Expression" was a beautiful composition that the class performed with little flaw. "Fireflies" flirted across the stage in a delicate manner, dancers tapped their shoes in sync, the hip hoppers and jazz dancers moved and grooved to the beat, and when the Stardusters performed "Sophisticated Soft Shoe," the word elegant came to mind.

Mrs Diane Wardenburg directs LSOD along with a very talented faculty. The Lathrop dance family can be seen throughout the community giving their time as the Jr and Sr Dance Teams participate in town events. The excitement of all dancers truly comes once a year when their talent shines on stage at Edmond Town Hall.

Once again, LSOD did not disappoint. Audiences were smiling as they exited the theatre, many parents and family members talking about how their children danced, other numbers that stood out, and what a great show it was.

As was the case when Mrs Ginny Lathrop was directing the school she founded, and now in the words of her successor Mrs Diane Wardenburg, for anyone who has attended a Stardust Revue, each finale presents a conclusion on "the best show ever."