Member Bios
 Mary Albin |
Mary hails from Bluffton, Ohio to the Tri-Cities by way of Texas, Louisiana, California, and Tennessee. Mary lives with the love of her life, Ken, and they have two college age sons, whom they adore. Her passions beside family, friends, and tap dancing are varied and numerous. Besides having worked in the nursing field for 25 years, engaging in water skiing is a major highlight for Mary. She plans to water ski until the end of time, as well as tap dance into the future. Mary's catch phrase is Hey Kat! She just loves that dance more than you can imagine. Mary began her tap lessons in September of 2005 when she became an empty nester, and she received a free dance lesson card in the mail. She hasn't looked back. Mary dearly enjoys her new found friends. She says they are a certain breed of kat, and very fun to be around always. She also says her tap teacher, Kim Stock, is a very patient person who is willing to work with anyone, no matter what their shape, size or ability is. Being a Tri-City Tapper makes Mary a very happy person. J As a little girl, she dreamed of being a prima ballerina only to find herself tap dancing in her prime. She is not crazy about the short skirts, but does love the sparkles on the costumes. She also loves lilacs and the color purple. |
 Phyllis Allen |
Benton City has been my home for 40 years. Before that I lived in Idaho where I was born. I grew up, attended school and met my husband of 48 years in the Boise valley. We also lived in Pocatello for 3 years before moving here. We are both retired teachers having done the most of our teaching in the Benton City School system. I taught first grade for most of my 27 years of teaching. My husband and I have 3 children and 9 grandchildren. Our grandchildren all live in Kennewick so we spend a great deal of time with them and watching them participating in sports and other activities. I love gardening, reading, singing and dancing. We are also avid Cougar fans and attend most of their football games. I was attracted to tap dancing when I watched one of my college friends dancing with her over 50s group at a reunion. It looked like such fun. When I returned home, I found an ad for Kim's classes. I talked a friend of mine into starting lessons with me. I was teaching half time so I could only attend classes every other week. After retiring I was able to attend every week. Then I was able to perform with the group. I have been dancing with the group since 1997. It is a great way to exercise your body and mind. It also keeps us young and makes us feel pretty as we wear our beautiful costumes and surprise our audiences with our performances. |
 Dolly Ammann |
Dolly Ammann is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Dolly is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Psychology. She has a M.S. in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. After retiring from the Air Force in 1986, Dolly pursued a career in private country club management. She is a member of the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) and is a Certified Club Manager and member of the CMAA's prestigious Honor Society. She was President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Upper Midwest Chapter CMAA, President of the Inland Empire Chapter CMAA,-Director in the European and Texas Chapters CMAA. She was a Board member of the CMAA International Wine Society for six years and was the-Host (President) of that organization. Dolly joined the Tri-City Tappers in March of 2005. Here is what she has to say about being a member of the Tri-City Tappers. "I'm very glad I joined. I first met Kim Stock at a fundraiser for one of our local charities. She was sitting at the same table with me and my best friend Christine Ziegler, another tapper. After a couple glasses of wine, the two of them talked me into joining the group. Since ballroom dancing has always been one of my passions, I found tap dancing a new fun challenge. Tap dancing has a number of excellent health benefits. First Tap dancing is a fun aerobic exercise. It is much more fun than going to the gym. It is a weight bearing exercise that is good for your bones. It is also a mental exercise. There are always new steps and routines to learn. Exercising your mind is as important as exercising your body as you age. Another thing that is important to me is our community service project. We perform at some of the nursing homes, rehab centers and assisted living facilities around the area. I feel that it is a wonderful thing to put smiles on the faces of the residents and do something special to brighten their day. I've lost 35 pounds since I joined the Tri-City Tappers. I am really happy to have shed those unwanted pounds. But, the most important thing to me is that I have made some wonderful new friends!" |
 Sharon Ayres |
Sharon moved to Kennewick in the summer of 2005 to be near her grandchildren. She previously had taken tap dance lessons, beginning at around age 4 and continuing for about 10 years before academic study and after-school sports filled the available extra curricular time. In December 2008 she learned about the Tri City Tappers and, with renewed passion, has taken up where she left off so many years ago Raised in Southern California from the age of 3, she lived there until 2005. She graduated from Goldenwest College with an A.A. and received her R.N. shortly thereafter.. Ten years later she graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in History, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. When not dancing she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, traveling and reading. She and her husband, David, an attorney, are semi-retired. They have a total of 5 children and 8 grandchildren. |
 JUDITH DAVIS |
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CINDI DOAN |
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MOLLY COLLINS |
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 Cindy Cross |
More info coming soon |
Liz Curfman |
More info coming soon |
 Darlene Davies |
My husband of 30 years and I came to the Tri-Cities 3.5 years ago on one of our many adventures. At that time I retired after 30 years in the hospitality industry. Music has always been a large part of who I am, mostly expressed through voice. I began singing at the age of 10 in my father's dance band, then with various groups, including TV and radio, through my early adult years. Then came 4 children and motherhood. Now I have found this excellent form of expression through dance with the Tri-City Tappers. Kim really keeps us on our toes, while making every class great fun. She is a wonderful instructor and we all love her. Come join us! |
 Diane De Ste Croix |
I've danced and played the flute most of my life. For 10 years I studied ballet and danced with the Olympia Ballet Company. Now, I am a middle eastern dancer who has performed in the Tri-Cities and around Wash. and Oregon with the Sultana and Troupe du Soleil dance ensembles. Tap dancing is fairly new to me, but I love to sweat, laugh, perform and learn new dances so, the Tri-City Tappers is the place for me! It is a warm and friendly group which, as I see it, unleashes the inner DIVA! |
DAWN GERHARD |
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DEBRA GROSSO |
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LORY JENNINGS |
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 Mary Gant |
She is enjoying retirement, after a career as a computer programmer and analyst. She loves the outdoors, especially being in the mountains. She and her husband have backpacked for years, combining their love of camping and hiking. She has always liked to read, especially mysteries; however, she seems to find very little time to do that lately. Since retiring, She has taken up crossword and sudoku puzzles. When at home, She typically spends one or two days a week volunteering. Recently, she and her hubby have started doing some volunteer vacations. The ones that they've chosen to do have been picked because of locale and work activities. So far, they've all been working in the outdoors. I started with the Tappers in the Fall of 2000, with no prior dance experience. I had never taken a lesson, even as a child. I thought that dance classes would be a fun way to get physical exercise. It never occurred to me that memorizing the choreography for a dance was a big mental exercise. I have since read that dance lessons are very good for people because they combine physical, mental, and social. And social we are! Kim has a couple of parties a year, and we get together for other things (such as lunches or going to plays as a group) once in awhile. We just have a lot of fun! I really enjoy the classes, performances, and parties. |
 Deborah Haberman |
She was born in Klamath Falls Oregon on January 9th and spent her early years on a cattle ranch near the mountains. Her sister, Cynthia, was born in April of the following year. After the sale of their ranch, her father took the family on the road where they had the privilege of seeing much of the southern regions of the United States. Even after settling down they moved and traveled often. Her family was musical and she and her sister participated in some of the music, especially playing instruments. She graduated from Mt. Shasta High School and later returned to college. Her BA was in History with a Biblical language minor and her MA was in anthropology with archaeology specialty. She met her husband Steve while she was a student in Walla Walla and they married in August of 1999. As a child growing up, I loved to watch ballroom dancing but I did not know much about tap dance. Rarely did not take an interest in tap until I saw Kim and the Tri-City Tappers perform in Steve Haberman's Broadway Show. The costumes were gorgeous with vibrant colors and fabulous accessories such as boas and headdresses. The numbers were brilliantly choreographed by Kim Stock. I was impressed and soon joined the beginning class. There is a sense of community and support found that is hard to find elsewhere. Dancing is a great way to exercise and still have fun! |
KRISTEN HATCH |
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Janelle Hales |
More info coming soon |
Mary Hammond |
More info coming soon |
 Carol Irvine |
As a child of five, I remember tapping to I'm a Little Tea Cup but that was the extent of my exposure to dance. From then on, while other girls were out practicing their ballet and tap dancing, I was playing sports. As our children grew, I followed all of their sport activities. However in 2005, after becoming a widow and an empty-nester a few years before, I knew I had to find an activity to get me out of the house. I had enjoyed the dance classes that my husband and I took, so I decided to try something along that line. After reading an article in The Herald, I called Kim and signed up for the over-50 tap dancing group called Tri-City Tappers. Well, what a good decision that was! I've found new steps for my feet to take, new friends to share the journey, and many new and fun experiences along the way. If you've ever considered dancing for fun, this is a wonderful place to be! |
Florence Kelly |
More info coming soon |
 Beverly Kanyid |
More info coming soon |
 Kim Leary |
Kim resides with her husband and cat in Benton City. She likes to rollerblade, sing, travel, and of course, dance. She is an oncology RN clinical research monitor working for Pharmaceutical Research Associates. She travels to regional destinations ensuring site compliance of oncology research clinical trials. I have been tap dancing since age 5 with a gap during the college and early adult years. I was taught not only tap, but precision tap and kick line and performed in many team competitions throughout Connecticut. I absolutely love tap dancing and dancing in general. I also love to be able to perform for others. I love being part of a team and camaraderie. |
 SUSAN LEE |
Susan was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, surfing and riding horses until her early twenties. She became the first female to integrate in the Electric Generating (fossil) Plant in Hollywood, Fl and pursued a very successful career working the Power Plants. She met and married Jim and after 40 years in Florida, he convinced her to move to the big state of Texas. Using all her knowledge and experience she again tackled the male dominated world of owning an Auto Repair shop at the local Ford dealership. She later opened up a Graphic Sign shop with embroidery and screen printing during her 18 years in Texas. Her mission for thirteen years was to rid the community of family violence and sexual assault, a passion still held today as much as flying her airplane. Susan has a total of 1 daughter 2 stepchildren and 1 granddaughter Since moving to Benton City Susan and Jim purchased property with 8 acres of Concord juice grapes and just like her previous endeavors tackling something new. Growing grapes for Welch’s. So when you have that grape jelly or juice it could be some of her grapes. The TriCity Tappers is just one more adventure, retirement is clearly not in the plans. What a wonderful life. |
 Betty Maryott |
Betty has been married forty-five years to Jim. They have two children: Annie (Dave Richards) and Melinda (Dr. Mike Johnson) and four grandchildren. They moved to Richland in 1963 from Oregon and Betty liked it right away. She made lots of friends. She went to school studying business and counseling psychology and worked as a teacher's aide and education coordinator for a social service agency. Her family enjoyed many years of boating and skiing. Betty and Jim also had years of fun in ballroom dance class. Now they enjoy taking their motor home on outings and to Mexico. I tap dance because I love rhythm and I love to move to music. My tap experience began at age ten with a teacher named Isa Dora Moldovan in Klamath Falls. As a young married woman in my twenties I continued to take tap dance class for enjoyment and exercise. Twenty-five years later Kim Stock came to town and my dream was answered - to have beautiful choreography set to the great old tunes. My dream had always been to go to New York and have one really great dance choreographed especially for me. Well, now I have a dozen dances to inspire me. |
Wilma Miller |
More info coming soon |
 Bev Nichols |
My working years include the human resources field, administrative assistant to the City Manager, Chiefs of Police and Fire for the City of Richland and ended in 1993 as Plant Problem Coordinator at Richland's Washington Nuclear Plant-2, now Energy Northwest. My husband and I winter in Casa Grande, AZ where I teach tap to a group of snowbirds from across our country-this (thanks to Kim's help) is one of the highlights of my retirement years. Kim Stock began offering tap dance lessons to seniors in February 1994. Her classes have given me renewed health, learning challenges, fun, performing opportunities and treasured friends. I began tap dance lessons when I was 13 and continued for 5 years. During this time I performed solo tap numbers and worked with a partner choreographing and performing interpretive jazz dances and writing the narratives for dance recitals. I enjoy the performing arts and while attending high school, played oboe, bassoon and piano solos in band concerts. I also was majorette in the marching band, played saxophone and sang vocal solos in a dance band. As a member of the drama club, I enjoyed leading roles in several stage plays which included competitions at the University of Washington. I presently play piano and accompany my husband on his trumpet and vocal solos. |
Flo O'Brien |
More info coming soon |
Marilla Petersen |
More info coming soon |
 Pam Richardson |
More info coming soon |
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CONNIE RICHARDSON |
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Elizabeth Roddy |
More info coming soon |
 Renee Root |
More info coming soon |
Lavonne Ruggles |
Lavonne and her husband have been married for 31 years. They have 6 kids, 15 grandkids and 11 great-grandkids. Most of the family members live here. Proudly, one grandson has served in Iraq twice. She's lived in Kennewick since 1950. She graduated Kennewick High and Beauty School in 1955-56. Retired from beauty work at age 68. They love fishing and camping in their motor home. They love BIG family gatherings at their home! I love my dance family too. I started in 2001. I have enjoyed every minute of it! At times I feel like it saved my life. Kim is awesome and we all love her to pieces. All the girls are great too! I hope I have the health to dance forever. |
 Mariellen Serracin |
From all the Tappers to Mariellen: May you finally be at peace! We all loved you! You will be missed by your family of tappers! October 21, 2009 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. AMEN |
 Genie Sigler |
I was born in Southern California and made my way up to Oregon in 1977 with my daughter, Elizabeth and son, Casey. Two years later I met Steve, and we have been married now for 27 years. We moved to Vancouver Washington in 1982. We share a love of boating and often cruised up the Columbia River to the “Sunshine”. After selling our business in Portland we decided to move to the sunshine. So in 2003 we made the move to the Tri Cities, Pasco. I have always enjoyed dancing. When I was in high school I belonged to a dancing group, for a short time, and we danced at USO Shows and some parties. It was mostly modern dance, no tap. When I saw Kim and her girls on the morning news, advertising her new class, I decided to give it a try. I thought the exercise through dance would be fun; not realizing the exercise was also for the mind. Making new friends has been a bonus. That was February 2009. I love the sound of Tapping. |
 Judy Steitz |
More info coming soon |
Betty Swinnerton |
More info coming soon |
 Carol Vance |
She and her husband moved to the Tri-Cities from Boise in 2001. She had just retired as a pediatric RN after working 30 years and raising three sons. She has always enjoyed any type of exercise-walking, biking, skiing, golf, kayaking and DANCING. As a newcomer to the Tri- Cities I was looking for some ways to meet new friends and a neighbor told me about the Tri-City Tappers. I had never tapped but I have always loved to dance so I decided to give it a try. I have been a member now for seven years. Kim, our instructor, is amazing and all the dancers are like family. Tapping is such good exercise for both the mind and body. The really fun part is getting to perform all the dances we have learned and to wear those glitzy costumes. Being a member of the Tri-City Tappers has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. |
 Mary Vance |
Mary has been tapping for 13 years. She loves the mental and physical exercise. We have such a talented and patient instructor in Kim Stock. Our tapping troupe consists of a diversity of girls - all unique. We have so much fun in class and in performances. I look forward each week to our class time and hope I can continue tapping for years to come. |
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She was born and raised in Dayton, Washington. After high school, she received her RN degree in 1961 from Deaconess School of nursing in Spokane. Later, in 1985, she received her AA degree from Columbia Basin College focusing on graphic and fine art. Her family moved to Tri-Cities from Omaha, Neb, in 1977. Her husband Dennis had retired from the U. S. Air Force and was offered a job with Sperry Univac here in the Tri-Cities. Since she was raised in Dayton, it was a great opportunity to again be close to relatives. They have 3 offspring. John is married and lives in Spokane with his wife Kathy and children, Johnathon 16 and Madison 9. They have their own business, Sound Logic. Daughter Aggie lives in Kirkland and works for IBM. Kate, their youngest, lives on Vashon Island and works for a small firm making guitars. I joined the Tri-City Tappers in 1995. I have always loved dance. Dennis and I were taking ballroom dancing lessons along with dance camps which we were enjoying. As a child, I had a few months of tap at the age of 5, so the thought of taking tap as an over 50 adult intrigued me! I have tried other types of dance in my life, clogging, international folk, and some modified modern, but tap dancing has been a great outlet for one who loves rhythm and music, and moving to the beat. |
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ANGELA VAN UNEN |
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Karen Wilcox |
More info coming soon |
 Kim Stock |
Our instructor, leader, mentor, and greatest cheerleader is the incomparable Kim Stock, who was a professional dancer for 25 years - and has been teaching for the last 15 years. |
... and YOU! |
Sign up now and become a member of this exciting group! |
Sharon
Van Houdt