Tap dance lessons with Mary Ann Trowbridge

When: 9 a.m., every Thursday

Where: Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St.

Cost: $3 for members, $5 for non-members

More info: Call 683-6806

Tap, tap, click, tap, click.

That’s the rhythm of Mary Ann Trowbridge and the distinct sound of her classic white and black leather tap shoes moving in a fast, yet graceful and seemingly effortless way across the worn wooden floor.

A bright 1940s tune, punctuated by cheerful piano keys provides the beat for her dance.

Suddenly the music ends, her feet stop and silence begins to leak into the room until her kind, soft voice is heard — “Let’s try it again. One more time please.” Within moments a group of women reposition themselves. Then, like a school of fish traversing through the ocean in unison, the women begin to tap with Trowbridge as their teacher.

A long life with tap

Trowbridge first began tap dance when she was 4 years old, and at 92, “It’s as natural as walking,” she said.

When you’re first learning tap dance or perfecting a new routine it can be both a mental and physical challenge, but after nearly eight decades Trowbridge doesn’t really even think about it, she said.

“I just love to dance.”

Trowbridge grew up in Long Beach, Calif., where she developed an appetite for both dance and theater.

“Dad was a Vaudeville musician,” she said.

Trowbridge can recall fond memories of seeing her father dash home from his job in retail, grab his marimbas and head out the door to go perform.

Before graduating high school, however, the attack on Pearl Harbor hit and thus instead of following her passion for dancing and acting, Trowbridge learned to rivet.

“I was so proud of myself,” she said.

Trowbridge’s riveting career was short-lived once it was known she could type and her skills were moved into an office setting. After providing her services throughout World War II, Trowbridge attended college and majored in drama.

While pursuing her drama degree, Trowbridge met her late husband of more than 60 years. He, too, was a drama major.

“He was my best friend,” she said.

No matter where they lived, Trowbridge and her husband participated in community theater together. They also owned and operated a hardware store in Newport, Ore., and shared five children.

“I’ve lived a full life,” she said.

Although Trowbridge and her husband had a mutual love for theater, “he didn’t like dancing,” she said.

“Tap was good because you don’t need a partner.”

Tap remained a pleasurable activity for Trowbridge, but directing took center stage. Naturally, after moving to Sequim about 30 years ago, Trowbridge became part of the North Olympic Peninsula performing arts scene. She participated with Olympic Theatre Arts, taught tap and directed.

“I loved it (directing) so much that I’d direct one thing right after the other.”

Even in the face of ovarian cancer about six years ago Trowbridge kept as involved as possible. To overcome the cancer, however, she spent a year undergoing chemotherapy, she said. During that year, Trowbridge took one of few breaks from the stage.

“All I can remember about that year is being very ill,” she said.

Cancer-free, Trowbridge returned to directing and dancing as soon as her body allowed.

“For me (tap) is therapeutic,” she said.

About a year ago Trowbridge broke her hip, but again didn’t allow that to slow her down and acknowledges her lifelong devotion to dancing as one of the reasons she healed so quickly and well.

“The doctors told me they didn’t need to give me a new hip because my bones are strong,” she said. “The reason I think I am in such good shape is from dancing my whole life.”

Still dancing, teaching

Trowbridge can’t believe how old she really is and certainly doesn’t feel it, she said. Despite how she may feel, given her age, Trowbridge decided to forego her driver’s license. Among the downsides of that decision was her inability to continue directing.

“Theater work is all night work and without a car I couldn’t do that anymore, but the one thing I could do was teach tap,” she said.

Every Thursday morning Trowbridge teaches a two-hour tap dance class at the Shipley Center. The first hour she devotes to beginners and the second to more advanced students.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s wonderful exercise and just hearing the music and being able to move around gives me energy.”

“It’s good for balance, too.”

Most recently Trowbridge expanded her instruction to The Fifth Avenue Retirement Center and focuses on those primarily wheelchair and walker-bound.

“Some of them have learned the first step of tap,” she said. “It just goes to show what can be done with some determination.”

For others it’s simply good physical therapy and they enjoy moving their feet to familiar music from the 1940s, Trowbridge said.

“It’s their kind of music.”

Trowbridge hopes to continue to build her classes and grow interest.

“I just wish more seniors would try tap dance,” she said.

As for Trowbridge, she has no plans of retiring her tap shoes.

“I love to do it and I am so glad I can do it,” she said. “I’ll keep dancing for as long as I possibly can.”

Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.