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Show BEN LOMOND BEACON. April 12. 1979. Page 8 Oporatod by Dixio Coggins by Keith Duncan Staying with the times and even ahead of them is the adequate way to describe Dixie Lee Coggins and her up and coming Dance Shoppe, located on Pleasant View Drive. Disco Dancing has been a deeping giant in the dance world and as that giant continues to wake and stir, Dixie has not been one to sit idle. The results of the recent Junior Miss Drill Team Competition are very evident of that. On Saturday March 31 at Layton High School, hundreds of pretty little girls and young ladies showed up to display- dancing talent. The Junior Miss Drill Team Utah Pageant and Team Competition is annual affair that drew competitors from as far north as Tremonton and as far South as Snowville and other places. The "Soul Strutters, as Dixies girls are called, have only been in existence for some two exciting years. When judging was complete some of the finest young dancing talent in the state displayed, the results were made public. From the Dance Shoppe, the 7 to 8 year old "Soul Strutters had placed second. The 9 to 10 year old Soul Strutters" also took a second. The Super Soul Strutters, girls from 13 years of age and older, were the judges picks for first place. Being named as individual winners were Shelen Whiteley, who was named a queen; Alison Rhees, also a queen and Patti Thorpe, a second runner up. The Soul Strutters are the pride and joy of numerous parents throughout North Ogden, Pleasant View and Mrs surrounding communities. Coggins says to be a member of the Soul Strutters dancing group, each girl must have the desire to be good, e to succeed, willing have the to take corrections, doesnt mind the pressure, has her parent's support, and has that genuine love to perform. Perhaps such distinguished goals are why the Soul Strutters have enjoyed such success in just a short time. high schools, and church functions, the schedule for the future doesnt appear any lighter. But Dixie wouldnt have it any other way. As mentioned in the beginning, disco and jazz dancing techniques have addeded a whole new dimention to the teaching of dance for Mrs. Coggins and her assistants. I believe we are a unique type of (kill team When disco and jazz can be combined with the precision type dancing, it can create a unique style. And thats what were working towards here, stated Mrs. Coggins. . songs that were selected by Dixie. Mrs. Coggins was born into a dancing family and while other little girls were learning the basics of sewing and cooking, Dixie could be found on the dance floor. I was practically raised in the dance studio, she pointed out. She attended high school in East Carbon where she first met her husband, Jerry. The both of them enrolled at the University of Utah where the next four years of their lives were spent. Dixies dancing skills and her love for the art excelled while Mr. Coggins was doing well himself on the football field. Dixie was selected as the Liberty Bowl queen the year the Utes made it to that bowl game. Dixies mother, Louise Lauriski, still teaches dance. Her sister, Valene, is married to Rod Tueller who was just recently named the head basketball coach at Utah State. The Tueller daughers, all five of them all Having already performed at Weber State, the Salt Palace, various a sports complex facility Street. on 12th' - Besides the Soul Strutters and the Super Soul Strutters, the Dance Shoppe and Dixie also feature the Cogginettes and the Disco Connection. The latter two feature the top dancers in the studio and some of the most modern disco and jazz dancing in the Others Due Dixies attitude was humbled when talking about the success the dancers have enjoyed at the Dance Shoppe. She said. My success is attributed to the people in the area who have been willing to put in their time and money for travel and other expenses. Ive wanted to give the kids my best and the parents have permitted me to do Dreams Come True For Dixie, who is also a mother of three children and the wife of Jerry Coggins, dancing has always been part of life and will most likely continue to be just that. Just as little boys someday dream of performing in the big leagues, Dixie never let go of her dream to someday perform with the Dance Caravan, a dance team. touring professional Finally the dream is a reality and beginning in June and running through July, Dixie and other professional dancers will tour several big U.S. cities to teach and display A goal that Ive never lost sight of is to have a studio to be equal with the work that goes on in it. It shouldnt be long before one gets under construction. I feel priviledged to be able to see some of the success that all the hard work brought. Many people work all their lives and die, never being able to see what they worked so long to get. I have to credit a lot of that success to disco. Assisting Dixie and taking over the Dance Shoppe while she is gone on tour, Vicki Black, former Miss Weber State. Vicki had known Dixie, ever - self-driv- teach dance. Bob Lauriski, the former Utah State basketball great and now Italian pro basketball hero is a brother to Dixie. Mr. Coggins brought his wife and family to Pleasant View when offered the head football coaching position at Weber High. Jerry just completed assisting in the basketball program with the Warriors, as he coached the sophomore team. His future plans are just that. area. since she was Under the direction of Danny Hocter, rtv Dance Caravan will begin its show in San Mateo, Calif, and continue through such cities as Portland; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Houston; Atlanta; Myrtle Beach, North Carolina; and ending up in Washington D.C. With the help of Mr. Hocter, Dixie plans to release a book and album in future weeks that will focus on the up and coming disco dancing. Her book will be entitled Disco for the Dance Educator. The album will be cut with several of the most popular disco ' Dixie also teaches disco at the Upper Level in Clearfield. The Disco Connection, a combination of men and women disco dancers is under the direction of Mrs. Coggins. They perform a various times at the Upper Level Members of the Disco Connection include Joni Bunker, Linda Larsen, Jan Ballif, Wendy Wright, Una Sarlo!., Vicki Black, Kim Zohnow, Vallerie Craythorne, Shaundree Crommwell, Tammy Jaskowski, Brenda Franklin, Heidi Malan, Natalie Holt, Tony Anderson, Neil Miller, Dick Vierra, Brooks Gibbs, Mark Barnes, Knit Webb, and Brian McKay. Recently Dixie appeared on television following the American Bandstand Show. She danced with Brooks Gibbs in disco style. In the Planning The Soul Strutters are now preparing for their presentations in the April 20th and 21st Dance Productions Concert. This is by invitation only. June 1 and 2 will bring the Dance Review called Fantasy". This will be presented at Weber High School. All members of the Dance Shoppe will be children will also included. be included in the Dance Review. Dixie adds that one more goal might be added to her list, To have a dean house. Pre-scho- ol a 'V v WL... j. , ' . v J.J, r ( we ' r - - f 4 KL in the -- -- Miss Drill Team Utah Pageant and Team SHELENE PATTI THORPE was a second runner-u- p in the results of the competition held at Layton VS r ymtamjpr WHITELY ke eta te perform ma Bn ptefsaaicsal daacfct cm. lb, I w.. W U was named a as a queen in the competition held at Layton High lest mong month. b. lne CcS. Cemmie Home, STRUTTERS racleds. keel mw, tell le titf, Kandy braes, Trisha Ckanor, Maori Tract. ate Joni Lera Each Corn ChrcSas Aaritast Eckard, Rhees, lyneS Car Msss!d. teddan, Bominquu, IsMma . J director, Pitmen, Dhue Lee Cosies, teat kern picdam am ASsea &ses, Ism Jegpea, lor, Rttton SmKh, Teresa Chrafeppetsoan, Csa baa. Kstfiy Schribar, and dated, and Lasri Malan. Sf a r 3. BXXCOCSRS le . N.r i KC35S Of IKE SOUL tft s&'w. i It M y - High School on March 31. apperforms hart with Books fcttn. The hmeftamm meet nil Cbue in mefeae. a dace dsaca keeker peared on lelewsme efcere Key performed fatamdMwwra Canes Cemmntta summer. Wires keen hat dream since fee gsef ' ' , 19 Competition. ' f vs the queen title years of age. dancing techniques. s . ALISON RHEES captured 12 btje |