The ‘Toes’ Perform Winter Spectacular

By AMY DAVIS

The Progress

The Mesquite Toes danced their way into the hearts of the community this weekend in their Winter Spectacular Performance held on Friday and Saturday November 19-20.

With three different showtimes at the Mesquite Community Theater, the “the Goodwill Ambassadors of Mesquite” treated their audiences to original choreographed numbers in tap, clog and jazz. They danced to songs like, “Country Girl (Shake It for Me), by Luke Brian; “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls; “In the Summertime,” by Mungo Jerry and even a few Christmas-themed numbers.

The senior citizen dance troupe is a 501c3 charitable organization that gives back to the community. All donations to the group are tax deductible. Master of Ceremonies Pericles Rellas even joked that hundred-dollar-bill donations are preferred.

Not only do the Mesquite Toes volunteer to dance at community events, but they have also set up two scholarship programs for Virgin Valley High School and Beaver Dam High School graduates.

The group has traveled all over the world dancing, performing on cruise ships, New York at the Knicks games, and at Knot’s Berry Farm in California.

Mesquite Toes Director Marjean Westwood was thrilled with last week’s performances. “I am so happy with how everything went tonight!” Westwood said in an interview with The Progress. “There were so many people who came to all three shows. The audience was so nice and participated and yelled and screamed for us. We are a bunch of Grandmas and Grandpas up there dancing and the kids were yelling for us and it was all so great!”

Throughout the night audience members yelled encouraging things to the performers such as “Go mama!” and “You rocked it, mama!”

The crowd did indeed participate and was even used as backup singers for Linda Nelson, who delighted the audience with her vocal ability as she sang “Under the Boardwalk.”

Nelson explained that due to extreme traffic coming outside of the gorge, her back up singers were unable to make it to the show. She asked the audience to sing “Under the board walk” when she gave a signal and it turned out fabulous.

Rellas, entertained the audience with information about the Mesquite Toes organization and a plethora of senior citizen-related jokes as the performers changed costumes.
“We’ve got some really sexy ladies and some really hunky men out here performing tonight and the program is just incredible,” Rellas said.

Rellas related that the youngest member of the Toes is 58 years old and the oldest is 77.
“Thank you so much for coming out and supporting these beautiful ladies,” Rellas said. “They have worked so hard for months to put this show together. I am amazed by these incredible performers.”

The Mesquite-Toes Dance program is a senior citizen dance team (performances are optional for members), that uses practice and performance to promote good health.

Westwood said that older people are often encouraged to do crossword puzzles or Sudoku to promote brain health. “Dance is also a major way to keep Alzheimer’s at bay because you always have to be thinking of what step comes next,” she said.

The Mesquite Toes are an all-inclusive organization. Absolutely anyone can join their ranks. They offer both beginner and intermediate dance classes.
“Thank you to everyone who made tonight possible,” Westwood concluded. “We want to let everyone know about our next performance. It will be our Spring Spectacular.”

The Mesquite Toes next show will be in April.