Our Dancers
ADAMS WATSON, CAROL
Carol Adams Watson studied ballet as a teenager. She earned a BFA in Theatre and has been in and out of theatre ever since, acting, directing, designing, making costumes, selling tickets and just about everything else, in summer stock, semi-professional as well as community theatre. After teaching speaking and writing to college freshmen in Iowa community colleges for 33 years, Carol retired to Tucson. She started tap dancing with the Sophisticated Dancers in 1998. Carol serves as Board Secretary and Newsletter Editor for Tucson Stars on Taps, Inc., Tap Sensation's umbrella organization. Carol has performed with the Sophisticated Dancers and Tap Sensation.
AHRENS, JAN
After graduating from college, Jan worked as an operating room nurse and managed rental property. She and her husband of 51 years have three children. Jan was very active in figure skating. She retired from competitive skating after winning two medals at the 2001 Adult Figure Skating Competition. Besides tap dancing, Jan enjoys swimming and sewing. Jan performs with Tap Sensation.
BOHAN, DIANE
In the past, Diane has worked as a legal secretary, a professional model, a teacher and an accountant. She is a wife, mother of three and grandmother of six. Diane is now a real estate broker. With such a varied background, Diane never would have guessed in her wildest dreams that she would become a tap dancing grandmother! Diane has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
BROOME, GINNY
A New Jersey native with an extensive background in music, a gift for languages and a gypsy soul, Ginny went from a career as a bilingual diplomatic secretary in New York and San Francisco to 35 years as an international flight attendant. Now retired and living in Tucson with her husband, Ed, Ginny finds tap dancing a great and fun way to express her love of music and rhythm. Her two adult children living in Portland think it’s wonderful. Ginny has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
ELDRED, MARLENE
Marlene was born and raised in San Francisco. After working in the insurance industry in the Transamerica Pyramid Building for 7 years, she switched to the computer industry and worked for Hewlett-Packard's computer and medical divisions for 10 years. Marlene married her wonderful husband, Bob, in 1990 and they moved to Tucson in 1991. Here, she sang with the Foothills Women’s Chorus for 13 years. Marlene took her first tap lesson in 2001 and has loved tap dancing ever since. Marlene has performed with the Sophisticated Dancers and Tap Sensation.
HELEN FRANCISCO
As long as she can remember, Helen has dreamed of becoming a dancer. She started taking dance lessons when she was 5 years old - tap, ballet, and later toe - until she graduated from high school, then studied modern dance at the University of Arkansas. Helen's dream almost came true when she met Al Alberts and the Four Aces at a concert in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1956. The group invited her to watch the show from backstage the following night, - what a thrill! Instead, Helen is happy to say, she became an Air Force pilot’s wife and has three beautiful children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Helen's dream finally came true when she joined the Hot Flashes in 1995. Helen has performed with the Hot Flashes, Tucson Prunes Take 2, and Tap Sensation.
FULLER, JILL
Jill was born in England, and danced with her twin sister as a child. She married an Air Force Officer and had three children -- one born in France, one in America, and one in Germany. Jill works at Tucson Medical Center as a registered nurse. She spent her first 18 years in Oncology, and for the past seven years has worked at TMC's Hospice Center. Jill is glad she resumed her dance career again, because it provides such a great outlet from her work. Jill has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
HAEBIG, MILLIE
Millie is a registered nurse. She works as a Clinical Nurse Leader in the Preadmission Department at a local hospital. In addition to dancing, Millie enjoys playing the piano and gardening. Her greatest joy is spending as much time as possible with her six grandchildren. Millie has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
HALVERSON, PEGGY
Peggy's calling has been as a “domestic goddess,” having raised four children and a husband. As her reward, she now enjoys six grandchildren and her first great-grandchild. Peggy volunteered for many years for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, acting as the voice of a child in court proceedings. Her special achievement is becoming a Life Master at the game of Duplicate Bridge.
HAMMOND, JANE
When Jane was a young girl, she always imagined that show business would be in her future. That dream remained dormant while she married, raised five children and traveled to many places in the world. Jane's secret dream was fulfilled when she joined the Hot Flashes. When she's not dancing, Jane enjoys swimming and giving small dinner parties, and finds some way to enjoy life every day! Jane has performed with the Tucson Prunes Take 2, the Hot Flashes, and Tap Sensation.
HURTT, BARBARA
Barbara tap danced from the age of three in Detroit. She joined her father in putting on USO shows for the troops. Barbara also danced on roller skates, which led to competition and a gold medal. Barbara worked as an Executive Secretary for Robin F. Williams (Robin Williams' father) at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan for 10 years. She and her husband Richard moved to Tucson 10 years ago and have one son who is in the military. Barbara has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
JONES, BARBARA
Barbara was born in Iowa. The daughter of a railroad man, her family did a lot of moving, living in Illinois, Utah, Califorina and Oregon as well as Arizona. Barbara met her husband Howard at Oregon State College and they have four children and 10 grandchildren. While raising children, she volunteered in the schools and worked various part-time office jobs as well as becoming a Weight Watchers Leader. Barbara danced as a child, and as an adult since l994. Along with travel, dancing is a big part of her life for mental, physical and social reasons. Barbara has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
KOMO, LINDA
MALLON, LINDA
Linda was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. She holds a degree in Education from the University of Nebraska and one in Business Administration from George Mason University. Linda worked for the American Red Cross/Central Arizona Chapter in Phoenix for 20 years as the Accounting Director and then retired to Tucson in 2002. She began her tap dancing career in 2004 with Viola Marshall and has also taken from Carol McKay and Sherry Young. Linda's other interests include selling part time on Ebay and scrapbooking, where she has been published twice in national publications, and travel. "I feel privileged to be a part of Tap Sensation!", states Linda.
MOHNSEN, ZORA
OSTER, BONNIE
Bonnie was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, New York. She is married and has one daughter. Bonnie worked as a Dental Assistant for 32 years, then studied to become a CAN/Caregiver. She studied tap under Carol McKay for three years and then joined the Sophisticated Dancers. Bonnie loves to dance -- it makes her heart and soul sing and her feet tap! Bonnie has performed with the Sophisticated Dancers and Tap Sensation.
PISTOTNIK, ROSILYN
Ro was a Registered Nurse on active duty with the United States Navy for 11 years, as well as a career Navy wife. She then had a second career as a Certified Travel Consultant for 25 years. Ro started tap dancing at the age of 69, and bears testimony that it is never too late to learn to tap dance. She and her husband have two children and one grandchild, the love of their lives. Ro has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
POOLE, JULIE
Julie is a veteran teacher of 28 years, having taught in the elementary and middle schools. She has been a crusader for the arts, especially in the schools. She considers herself a creative thinker and loves to entertain. Music and dance have always been a part of Julie's life, and she has dreamed of performing all her life. In joining our company Julie feels that she has accomplished a dream come true, and dance has put joy in her soul. Julie is proud to be a military mom. She and her husband Earl have been married for 37 years and have two sons. Julie has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
SCHWITTERS, SHARON
After attending business college, Sharon worked as a secretary, a full charge bookkeeper, and an accounting assistant. She volunteered in the school system as well as her three sons' school sports organizations. Sharon's hobbies include tap dancing, singing with the Foothills Women’s Chorus, and researching the latest developments in nutrition, health and physical fitness. Sharon has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
SHERMAN, REVA
SIEGLING, JUDY
Judy comes from a family of circus performers, and worked in advance promotion for Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus during their 100 year centennial celebration. She is also a former Hospital Medical Staff Credentialing Specialist. Judy and her husband Fred spend as much time as possible with their two beautiful grandchildren. Dancing has always brought joy into her life, and for the past eight years tap dancing has been her particular favorite. Judy has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
SMITH, LYNNE
Lynn was born in Birmingham, England. She married a serviceman and moved to the United States in 1956. Lynn has two daughters, one grandson and one great-granddaughter. In England, she studied tap, ballet and acrobatics from age 6 through 16. Lynn enjoys every aspect of performing with a tap dance company and is having a barrel of fun. Her delight in tap dancing is contagious. Lynn has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
STEELE, LOIS
Lois learned to tap dance from her older cousin while in grade school on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. She had no further opportunity to take dance classes until five years later in boarding school during her last two years of high school. During college, Lois danced in all the musicals and taught ballroom dancing at Arthur Murray Studio. She graduated from Colorado College with a degree in Zoology. Lois taught dance and other health and physical education courses at Rocky Mountain College the year after she graduated. She has taught at all levels from sixth grade through undergraduate college. Lois later attended medical school and is a board certified physician as well as an administrator and researcher at the U.S. Indian Health Service. One day about 15 years ago, Lois' granddaughter Sabi brought home a flyer seeking tap dancers over age 50. She joined the group - and it turned out to be the Hot Flashes! In addition to performing dance, Lois is a member of the singing group “The Prooners.” Lois credits her fellow dancers, who have become fast friends, for helping her through breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and being bald. Lois feels very lucky to have the opportunity to dance and the privilege to entertain the great audiences we encounter in Tucson. Lois has performed with the Sophisticated Dancers, Tucson Prunes Take 2, and the Hot Flashes.
STRUVE, JANICE
Janice hails from Elgin, Illinois, and has four children, eight grandchildren, and four reat-grandchildren. She has been a school bus driver for 28 years, has cleaned homes for 25 years, and has worked at Osco for 13 years. After all those years of work, work, work, Janice found tap dance in 1994. Tap dancing gave her a new attitude that led to a change in her life. Janice's life no longer revolves around work, and she always makes time for rehearsal and performances. These years of tap dancing have been the best times of her life. Janice has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
THOMPSON, KAY
Kay was born in Pennsylvania. She became an Air Force wife, lived in England and Germany, raised two children, and ended up in Tucson. After retiring from Mountain Bell, Kay looked around for a new avocation. She has always loved dancing, especially ballroom dance, so she decided to start taking tap dance lessons. That led to joining our performing group. Kay never dreamed she'd be in stage makeup, wearing a glitzy costume, tap dancing on stage. Kay has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
WELLS, MARY
Mary spent the first 20 years of her adult life as a stay-at-home mom. For the next 20 years, she worked as a Management Information Director and an Education and Training Coordinator for a national rehabilitation commission. Mary retired from those demanding positions to make enough time to tap dance, and hopes to spend at least another 20 years performing with our dance troupe. She has ten grandchildren ages 9 to 25. Mary has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
WISELY, MARY
Mary began studying tap, ballet, acrobatics and piano at age 8. In her teens and from 1971 through 1995, she was very active in roller skate dancing. Mary is a retired D.T.R. from Tucson Unified School District Food Services. Her three daughters and six grandchildren live here in Tucson. Mary and her husband Al enjoy traveling, and square dance wherever they go. They both are involved and support “Arts Express” and the Fine Arts Youth Academy. Mary has performed with the Hot Flashes and Tap Sensation.
YOUNG, SHERRY
