Never too old to rock ‘n’ roll

Rosette Gonzales

With sparkling costumes, snappy tunes and sharp dance moves, seniors

proved Monday that you’re never too old to rock ‘n’ roll.

The Joslyn Adult Center had its biannual senior superstar showcase

Monday, featuring an array talented musicians, comics and dancers,

including one of the belly variety.

“I love dancing,” said tap dancer Carol Black, 81, of The Tap

Chicks. “I love the people and entertaining seniors because I’m a

senior and I know how much it means for them to have a show.”

The group of a dozen tapping “chicks” started taking lessons

almost 10 years ago, tap dance teacher Pam Kay said.

“They got to be so good I said, ‘Let’s put a performance group

together,’” Kay said.

Twice a year, the senior superstar showcase gives seniors who used

to perform professionally a chance to be in the spotlight once more,

event organizer Marie Burnett said. But it also provides a venue for

those who discovered their talent later in life.

“All my life I wanted to be a dancer,” Tap Chicks member Esther

Monterro, 75, said. “I got to be 70 and I said, ‘I’m going to

dance!’”

Audience members were treated to a variety of acts, including an

unconventional rock ‘n’ roll rendition of “In the Navy,” accompanied

by the belly dancing of “Sophie.” Wrapped in a sheer American flag,

Sophie beckoned onlookers with her hypnotizing east-meets-west moves.

“Who wants to sign up for the Navy? Anybody?” Burnett prodded the

audience after Sophie’s dance.

But comedian-singer Herb Coleman, 71, snapped audience members out

of their trance and brought them to their feet with his performance.

One audience member started dancing the twist when he sang “What’d I

Say” by Ray Charles and two others danced in the aisles to “Mac the

Knife.”

Coleman worked as a professional entertainer throughout his life,

singing, dancing and songwriting.

“I even juggled once -- three girls at the same time,” he said.