Dance Team


BIO'S ON OUR SAGUARO STRUTTER DANCE TEAM

Mary B. Bio:

Born in Arizona...born to dance...Mom taught me how to dance when I was about 4 yrs. young.  Some of my background is as follows:  tap, clogging,  Polynesian hula, square, round, contra, west coast swing, ballroom, country, Latin, jazz.  Taught, performed, choregraphed and competed (team formations) with line-dancing from 1983 until 1997. (Competition in new line-dance choreography.  Several dances published in popular national dance magazine).  Formed, managed, choreographed, competed, and traveled with my own line-dance team, "Pizazz", for two years.  Past seven years, still performing with a couples formation team at Studio West (dance studio).  Most recent music adventure:  playing the keyboard at nursing homes, adult care homes, etc.  One of my favorite things to do:  DANCE WITH THE SAGUARO STRUTTERS !!!   I love them so much.  Music and dancing is not what I do............IT'S WHAT I AM !!

Art C. Bio: 

I didn’t start dancing until a few years ago.  I was finally convinced (read coerced) to take a ballroom dance class in 2001 and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I found out that most people have two left feet when they first start dancing.  Once I found out I wasn’t alone in this, I started enjoying myself and began learning new steps and patterns.  I took a line dance with Claudia Madden in early 2002 and she saw something in me that I didn’t.  She invited me to join the Saguaro Strutters and I went to my first performance on July 4th of 2002.  Since then I have met many friends from all over including Tucson, Phoenix, the U.S. and even Canada and England.  I found out that line dancers the world over are like one big family.  I even met my wife line dancing.  When Elaine joined our group, we quickly became good friends.  We eventually starting seeing each other as more than friends and we were married in May of 2006.  The Saguaro Strutters are more than a dance team, they are a family.

Elaine C. Bio:

I have loved to dance since I was a teenager.  I used to go to dances and dance rock and roll and then, over the years I switched to Country and Western dancing. I did for a while take Belly Dancing and even taught Belly Dancing in my home.  It was often hard to find a partner who loved to dance as much as I, so I started to learn Country line dance and that was in 1994.  I took my first class from Mariella and Bill Patterson at the VFW Hall, and was a member of the Dry Gulch dancers. About 4 years ago I met the Saguaro Strutters dance group and have been dancing with them every since.  I also met my husband, who is also a member of the Saguaro Strutters, we have been happily married since May of 2006.  I love dancing with this group, we get to go all kinds of places and meet all kinds of people, plus we are very close, just like family. 

Valorie R. Bio:

You will find a common theme amongst all these bios...we all LOVE to dance!  I grew up in Montana and my first taste of dance performance was in junior high doing Finnish folk dances at the Red Lodge Festival of Nations.  I married a wonderful man whose only major flaw, in my opinion, is that he does not dance!  Eleven years ago or so I decided to take a line dance class through Tucson Parks & Recreation taught by Claudia Madden mainly because I realized it was a great way to dance that does not require a partner.  She must have an eye for talent because she immediately asked me to join a line dance group she had formed called the Saguaro Strutters!  I have been a part of the group since early 1997 and now have the distinction of being the “elder” member of the group, despite being the youngest chronologically.  I have taken various classes in different dance forms throughout my life, and am currently enjoying belly dance classes along with my line dancing.  I like living in the Southwest, enjoy being a librarian and I love line dancing