By Barb Brouwer, Observer contributor

At 89, Jackie Cannon is tapping into her joy.

And she is not alone.

Cannon is a member of the Moxie Ladies, a tap-dancing group led by longtime dance instructor Ann Robertson.

Describing herself as a 害羞草研究所渞eal ham,害羞草研究所� Cannon credits the weekly tap sessions with good health and good spirits.

害羞草研究所淚 love it, it害羞草研究所檚 joyful. We dance to a lot of 害羞草研究所�40s big-band music and it害羞草研究所檚 really good exercise; you use the whole core of your body,害羞草研究所� she says, noting her doctor is fully supportive. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 excellent because we gradually learn a routine, then you have to remember the steps, so you can see where the mental part comes in.害羞草研究所�

A Salmon Arm resident since 1951, Cannon began tap-dancing at the age of eight when her mother drove her 30 miles to the next Saskatchewan town for lessons.

A musical soul, she began piano lessons at age four and singing when she was 11.

害羞草研究所淐lassical singing has always been my passion and I have sung at a million concerts, weddings and funerals,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚 sang and danced in a lot of amateur shows in Saskatchewan and just had a wonderful time.害羞草研究所�

Always encouraged by her parents, at age 11 Cannon studied tap-dancing in Winnipeg, followed by singing and dancing in Vaudeville shows in the city害羞草研究所檚 Beacon Theatre.

But the tap-dance shoes were hung up for 40 years as Cannon害羞草研究所檚 passion turned to singing and raising a family here.

害羞草研究所淪ome of the mothers in Salmon Arm found out I was a tap dancer and I gave lessons to young girls,害羞草研究所� says the mother of four, who heard about Ann Robertson at the Fifth Avenue Seniors Activity Centre.

害羞草研究所淭he rest is history,害羞草研究所� she laughs. 害羞草研究所淓veryone is supportive, lovely and a lot of fun, including Ann, who is a wonderful person and a great teacher. We have become another family.害羞草研究所�

Lithe, graceful and enthusiastic, the 75-year-old Robertson started dancing in England when she was four years old.

She travelled to Canada in 1952, earning her dance teacher certificate in Ontario. She studied jazz and Martha Graham Dance and Choreography at the University of Calgary when she was 40 and came to Salmon Arm in 1992.

害羞草研究所淚 started teaching when I was 14 and really developed my own style,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚 would rather encourage and was keen on being careful with dancers.害羞草研究所�

Robertson gave lessons on ballroom and western dance, both on her own and at Okanagan College, for some 20 years. She also taught foxtrot, jive and Latin at the seniors害羞草研究所� activity centre.

But Robertson has always preferred tap dancing 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e loved it all my life and it害羞草研究所檚 something you can do until you are 100.害羞草研究所�

A volunteer teacher to the Moxie Ladies, Robertson choreographs her own low-impact routines, especially for seniors.

害羞草研究所淓veryone seems to have a knee, hip or foot problem so I must keep this in mind when I am teaching,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淭hey are so enthusiastic and they keep me on my toes.害羞草研究所�

Cannon, who turns 90 in April, has no plans on quitting.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 going to dance for the rest of this season whether I害羞草研究所檓 90 or not,害羞草研究所� says the happy fireball, who played flute in the community band for 18 years and continues to sing in the choir at First United Church. 害羞草研究所淚 just have to keep on making opportunities for myself.害羞草研究所�

The cost of the classes is a modest $10 a month to cover the rent, have an end-of-season lunch and offer financial support to a dance student with any leftover funds.

Anyone who is interested in getting their tap on, may call Carolyn Wonacott at the Shuswap Dance Center, at 250-833-5418.