Date: Fri 12-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SUZANN

Quick Words:

Stardust-Lathrop-Ginny-dance

Full Text:

Lathrop's Stardust Revue: Never A Dull Number

(with cuts)

BY SUZANNA NYBERG

A cast of Newtown youngsters, many undoubtedly destined for stardom, performed

five times last weekend in the Lathrop School of Dance's 46th Stardust Revue.

The Friday evening performance was a benefit for the Children's Wing at

Danbury Hospital and one of the Sunday matinees was a benefit for the Newtown

Scholarship Fund. As has become tradition for the early summer recitals, all

performances were on the stage at Newtown's Edmond Town Hall.

Watching the revue, consisting of 40 dances, was an unforgettable experience.

Ginny Lathrop's dance routines, full of exuberance, ranged from speedy

shuffles to perky taps, each one bringing warm applause.

The show began with Junior Stardusters doing a lively tap, called "We're Off

To a Great Start."

The youngest class, the Persian Princesses, which presented nine three

year-olds full of childish charms and winsome manners, followed.

The Revue continued to be simply a series of successes, each routine handled

by the dancers like veterans. Enchanting in yellow polka-dotted costumes, the

four year-olds danced enthusiastically to "We're Off to See the Wizard," while

a group of beginning adults performed "The Good Old Vaudeville Days."

"They were terrific," Mrs Lathrop said. "They practiced like crazy so their

arms were in sync; their unison work was great."

The Revue had a strong accent on jazz, and "Jivin' Jazz" sparkled with the

girls' enthusiasm. "This was a beginning class," Mrs Lathrop said. "And they

were darling."

The "Country Cloggin" dancers hoofed splendidly, and the ballerinas in

"Scarlet Ribbon Sweethearts" danced with grace. "This number took a lot of

energy," Mrs Lathrop said. "It comes naturally to those who do country

clogging, but it's still difficult to get all the taps in."

The Stardusters danced several routines, including "City Lights" and "Seasons

of Love." "The Stardusters are my topline dancers," Mrs Lathrop said. "They

are seasoned performers."

The Stardust Revue, started in the 1950s by Mrs Lathrop's late husband, Mack,

is always without a dull number. When the Lathrop school puts on a show it

does a handsome job.

The Stardusters are living proof of Ginnny Lathrop's and Diane Wardenburg's

talents as teachers and dancers. From the looks of virtually every number,

there are many Stardusters waiting in the wings.