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Who's Who in
Class ActBy Sherile Hurwitz, Class Act "Biographer"
Class Act, is comprised of a group of friends--some lifelong, some added along the way--with varied, lifetime experiences and professions, but with two uniquely common similarities: we all participate in Class Act because we love to dance, and we all have the good fortune of being happily married to spouses who support our desire to perform and bring a few smiles to our audiences. They support our efforts and applaud our successes, sometimes acting as chauffeurs, valets who carry costumes & props, photographers, etc. Below is a thumbnail sketch of who we are and how we got here!.
Betty Sue McKown Andrews (AHS '48) moved to Austin as a little girl in 1942.. She and her husband, Bob, operated a retail business on The Drag from 1956 until they founded the popular lingerie store, Petticoat Fair, in 1964. Betty danced as a child, and was a Drum Majorette at Austin High School. Though "retired" she continues to help with the family business when she is not dancing, or rehearsing for a performance, which seems to be more frequent all the time!
"Umpy" Bechtol grew up in Hawaii and says she greatly regrets not learning the Hula--which is the first question people ask when they learn she lived there, especially her grandchildren. However, two years ago she began to fulfill her longtime dream of dancing by joining the tap dance group that eventually became Class Act. When you ask her the most important thing you can say about her she says she has a Multitude of children and Mega grandchildren--which we shortened to M & M.
Nita Mitchell Bouldin (AHS '48) is a native Austinite, along with many of her family members. Known to some as "La Nita de la Luz", Lady of the Light, she has spent many years doing Middle Eastern dance locally and around the globe. A few years ago, she enhanced her repertoire to include tap dancing. She is the coordinator--with all that encompasses!--of Class Act, and if our performance looks good, Nita is the one who played the major role in making it happen!
Mila Crowell--our "Girl Friday"--AND Saturday, AND Monday, AND Tuesday, etc. Formerly active in Dallas Dance in Dallas, Texas, she has devoted many years to Austin Dance World. You may recognize this talented and versatile lady dancing around with the sign presenting the order of our program, behind the stereo coordinating our music, or playing various and sundry other vital roles!
Carlene and Chuck Denman are, at present, the only husband and wife dancers in Class Act. Devoted parents and grandparents, Carlene is a retired Austin realtor and Chuck is an attorney. Lucky for us, they moved to Austin in 1984, to become valuable partners in organizing Class Act in 1999.
Nelle Ray Hickerson (AHS '48), another native Austinite, was a familiar face around the Capitol for many years. Concluding that dancing was a lot more fun than aerobics or nautilus machines, she started tap dancing about 1993, for exercise and socializing with long-time friends. Performing was definitely not in the picture at that time, but within a reasonably short time, performing around the Austin area became a frequent and enjoyable activity, and--when she and her husband are not traveling around the globe--she has been enthusiastically performing ever since.
Sherlie Hurwitz's earliest memories revolve around dancing. Inspired by her idol, Shirley Temple, she spent her waking hours either dancing, or thinking about dancing! She walked after school daily to the dance studio near her mother's dress shop and, with permission from the owner, danced with every single class. After she raised a family, operated and retired from a "mom-and-pop" bowling business with her husband, she decided in 1993, to resume her favorite activity: dancing!
A flamboyant and energetic addition to Class Act, Jeanetta Kloppe migrated to the Heart of Texas in 1998, from Dallas, Texas. Highly involved and active in numerous charities in Dallas, she now shares her numerous talents and her unique creativity with Class Act. Her photographic expertise plus her artistic ability were used to create the Class Act poster that is on display today.
Flo Weiershausen came late to dancing, having started about 1994. But she hit the deck running and went uphill from there. You will recognize her by her dazzling smile and enthusiastic stage presence. Flo is an active volunteer in her church and the German-Texas Heritage Society. She and her husband, J.R., travel extensively and are avid walkers who have walked in most of the United States as well as in other countries.
Robin Moore earned a B.S degree from Texas A & M. He and his wife operate Hunter Chase Farms, where they teach English Horse Back Riding.. He has sung with the Austin Lyric Opera is a major performer with the Austin Gridiron, a media sponsored event whose proceeds go to a Scholarship fund for college students. He also sang with the Austin Choral Union.
Colleen Moore, another native Austinite, was a music major and, to quote her, has taught voice and piano "forever". She is President of Austin Women's Club, Past President of Austin Symphony League, and sings with both the Austin Lyric Opera and the GBATS.
Henry "Sonny" Johnson attended Austin High School ('48) and graduated from the University of Texas. He was a cheerleader during his school days. He has been Accountant or Chief Financial Officer of large and small companies, state government agencies, and non-profit organizations. A retired CPA, he now stays busy in cattle ranching and first person presentations of Simon Peter at churches, schools, nursing homes, and youth groups. He plays guitar and sings, and in his "spare time" dances with Class Act!
Kay Powers is well known in Austin as a long time writer for the Austin American Statesman, which features a regular column she writes. She is also a published author, a very accomplished pianist, and writes the music and lyrics for the Austin Gridiron Show.
Two long-standing husband and wife members of Class Act, Mary Ellen Von Merz, are presently inactive, but their participation over the years has been invaluable. They continue to cheer us at all our performances, and we keep reminding them to keep their dancing shoes and costumes handy!
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