They’re no spring chickens, but they’re cool southern chicks…
The University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts is proud to present the Hen Party and the Beaufortettes – Tap Dancing Divas on Thursday, January 30th at 7:30 pm. Ladies, bring your girlfriends out for a night of fun and hilarity! Roosters are welcome as well.
Karen Mills, one of the original “Southern Fried Chicks,” is teaming up with Mia Jackson and Sheri Taylor for the latest “Hen Party” tour where they ponder the question, “Do these feathers make my butt look big?”
The Beaufortettes – Tap Dancing Divas will be strutting their tail feathers as a highlight before the “Hen Party,” and are thrilled to be returning to hometown roots. Although they are not exactly spring chickens, they think of themselves as pretty cool southern chicks. The Beaufortettes have 11 members with an age range of 65 – 80 with an average age of 70 years, and boast several bionic parts. They began tapping together in 2006 with very little if any tap dance training but with big dreams. They have performed with “Tap City,” productions at the Beaufort Performing Arts Center, several military tributes, and at the BMH Day of Dance. They have performed twice with the Hen Party in the historic Newberry Opera House and look forward to again dancing with them there this June. They began competing in 2011 and have won six first place trophies as well as special costume and entertainment awards. This July at the DTI National Dance Competition in Savannah they were thrilled to win the Judges Choice Elite Award, First Place Adult Dance, and the Level One Overall Entertainment Award. They never imagined that they would ever earn the title of “National Champion” at their age!
The Beaufortettes are currently dancing under the direction of Aleshia Ashlaw of the Beaufort Academy of Dance. They were so excited to get their “Beaufortettes Senior Competition Team Jackets! Their two “tapercize” dance classes each week have proven to be both physically and mentally stimulating. They have found this to be the best method of staying young in mind, body, and spirit. In addition to fulfilling their Rockette dreams, they surely never thought they would be performing in tights at their age. Even more amazing is the fact that, though they would never normally say this to each other at their age, they all wish they will “break a leg” at every performance!
Get your tickets for the January 30th performance of the Hen Party and the Beaufortettes by contacting the USCB Box Office at uscbcenterforthearts.com or by calling 843 521-4145. Please join us and support your hometown senior tap dancers!
The Beaufortettes are: Janet Gregory (Dance Captain), Pat Ash, Gladys Garrett, Connie Haskell, Gerry Johnson, Phyllis Kaupp-Seas, Nancy Law, Gloria Mawby, Lura Holman McIntosh, Barbara Olney, and Pat Schad.
