Splish, splash – there was a whole lot of synchronized water movement going on at Prairie Lodge’s Indoor Pool! When Cynthia O’Connor, Sun City’s Lifestyles Director, asked Chris Hinde to put together a water show for the Feeling Great Is Ageless Expo, Chris responded with an emphatic “Yes!” After all, the Sun City resident, who is also the Hydronaut’s and Neptune’s water aerobics teacher and Stingrays’ Swim Club head coach, had already developed a premier water show featuring the Sun City Seals on March 31, 2000.
This year’s Synchronized Water Movements Show took place on May 23 in Prairie Lodge’s indoor pool and was the first of its kind here at Sun City to combine performances of a swim club and a water aerobics class. It re-introduced a patriotic theme from the 2000 show, with the Stingrays saluting veterans in the audience at their beginning warm-up exercise and again at their finale. Kick boards and rubber band exercises with a highlight of relay swim races were also included in the Sun City swimmers’ program. The Hydronauts, performing in the second half of the show, continued more rubber band stretches, along with aquabells, barbells, and noodle-assisted kicking routines.
What many of the audience did not realize, however, was that a serious illness was incurred by 78-year-old Mr. Hinde just 11 and-a-half weeks before show time. The master choreographer was not able to continue rehearsals and class schedules to see the performance through to its culmination. Instead, with “the show must go on” spirit, members of both teams stepped up to fill-in for Chris:
Stingrays Ginny McCann and Joanie Koplos assumed directorial roles; assistant Stingray swim coach, Len Lencioni, led the 15 Stingrays to their successful performance; Neptune/Hydronaut, Carl Hupert, with the assistance of Hydronaut, Cindy Jakymiw, directed the eight Hydronauts when they were in the water. In fact, Carl and his wife, Sandy, performed in both groups. The program prop men were Ed McFarland and Nick Koplos and Terry Hora, Stings.
Bernadette Fortnum, Aquatic Director, coordinated the music portion of the exhibit while Stings Joe Loughlin, Ginny MCann, and Joanie Koplos were the announcers. The Stingrays would also like to extend their gratitude to Frank Geister, who filmed the show, and to all others who photographed it. A special thank you goes to Sandy Sterling, who manned the Stingray Club booth during the performance, and to Kathleen Wulf, who distributed 75 booties to the audience for the purpose of pool floor protection.
Inge Sedey, a Stingray club member who photographed parts of the show, commented: “I enjoyed the relay races and positive direction from Len Lencioni.” A Stingray performer, Rosemary Meyer, added: “I loved doing the relays and parading with the American flag!” Carl Hupert of the Hydronauts and Stingrays continued: “I felt we did a good job, and hopefully the audience perceived the same result, as well. I sensed a good camaraderie between both groups.”
Cindy Jakymiw, a Hydronaut, concluded: “I have thoroughly enjoyed taking water aerobic classes, meeting new people, and getting a good workout. It always puts a smile on my face. As a working girl still-it is something I can participate in easily.” We hope you enjoyed our event as much as we had fun in performing it for all of those in attendance!
Members of the Synchronized Water Movements Show were: Stingrays: Len Lencioni, Ann Broderick, Brad Carlins, Caryl Fabian, Pat Hatton, Carl Hupert, Sandy Hupert, Joanie Koplos, Roger Lauderdale, Margarete Liedtke, Ginny McCann, Pat McFarland, Rosemary Meyer, Phyllis Nordlof, Joan Souchek, and Frank Zilinsky. Hydronauts: Carl Hupert, Cindy Jakymiw, Sandy Cooper, Pat Darow, Judy Engeriser, Wilma Hackl, Sandy Hupert, Jeannie Martin, and Doris Pizzillo.
