This month’s Olde Christmas Parade marked a special silver anniversary for the dancing ladies of the Mountain Garden Club. This year marked 25 years of dancing in the annual parade, a tradition that has grown to a local favorite since 1998.
Like any dance number, there are many key pieces behind the scenes to make pieces safe and fun. Dance steps are spurred forward by the mind of Ester Gooch, the club’s choreographer and youngest official member. Attire, on the other hand, comes with the help of Midge Rothermel, the club’s designer.
Gooch, who originally hails from South America, has been dancing since high school and has carried that passion. When creating a dance for the ladies, she needs to keep in mind age and mobility, novelty to make the pieces stand out, and music that people can groove to. Many of the members are seniors, so moves need to bear their capabilities in mind.
“What I start with is hardly ever what we finish with,” Gooch said. “This year, we actually made it harder. We started with the dance and toward the end there was stuff they wanted to do differently. I wasn’t sure if they would be able to do it, but they were willing to try and they did it.”
Gooch explained most of the ladies have been dancing for years, so they’ve got a familiarity with the moves. The Grapevine and the Charleston are two commonly used movements. Gooch also said turns must be slow enough so that nobody loses balance.
For the 25th anniversary, the ladies danced to “Jingle Bell Rock,” which was the first song they danced to. This year’s parade brought some much needed, but little wanted, rain. The ladies, however, have danced in all weather conditions, and this year’s silver ponchos may have helped.
With tons of glitter, an easy single seam, and black slacks and shirts, Rothermel and the ladies shone through the rain.
“The costuming is fun, easy, and we try to keep it inexpensive,” Rothermel said.
To keep things simple, the group decides on an outfit based on what they dance to. Rothermel said all the pieces fit well together for this year.
Rothermel, who has been with the group for 20 years, said it’s great to be in a community group like that. Caroline Cook, who will be president of Mountain Garden Club next year, echoed that sentiment. Dancing is also a fun part of membership.
“We love to be able to get out, be with our friends, and have such a sense of camaraderie with those we dance with and those on the streets watching us dance,” Cook said.
Of course, the Mountain Garden Club does more than just dance, or they’d be the Mountain Dance Club. The group takes care of the gardens at Highlands School, the Eckerd Living Center in the hospital, and the old jail. They also hold an annual Memorial Day weekend sale that raises money for their scholarship funds.
Rothermel said the club currently gives $500 a semester to students studying horticulture, conservation, education, or other related fields. Students must maintain enrollment and grades.
Cook said the group is planning to expand this scholarship beyond four-year institution students.
“We will be now looking more at not only college but trade schools also. We feel like that is a big need in this area for the children of Highlands,” Cook said.