Becky Budnik wows the crowd gathered in Rocky River Saturday with their song and dance, part of the Steppin’ Out female choir’s 50th anniversary celebration. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Show choir steps out for golden anniversary extravaganza
By Jennifer Mitchell
happenings
Published May 17, 2006

Those looking for a little Broadway in their backyard can take a bite out of the Big Apple Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Rocky River.

The voices of Steppin’Out are taking to the stage for Solid Gold, the group’s 50th-anniversary performance and members are inviting everyone to come out and shake their groove thing for charity.

Joy Heldt

Though the faces of the women’s nonprofit show choir have changed over the past half century, the goals of its members, ranging from their 20s to their 40s, haven’t.

“It’s just the fun of getting out there and entertaining somebody and knowing they are enjoying it,” member Carol Silvay, of Cleveland said.

And with song and dance numbers from today to the 1940s, the group has something everyone can sink their teeth into.

“Once people see the show they like to come back again,” Silvay said. “They don’t realize what it is until they see it, and then they are hooked.”

None of the group’s 10 members are founders, but Silvay’s mother, Mafalda Koskey, was with Steppin’ Out when it first started.

Founded in 1956, the group began as the Valley View Mother-singers.  In 1970, as the Choralaires, members aided the North Olmsted Parent-Teacher Association Council in its work for the city’s youth.   In 1986, the group added choreography to its repertoire, becoming Steppin’ Out.

Silvay watched much of the group’s evolution.

“My mom was in it for 25 years,” she said. “I just grew up with it. I decided, yeah I want to do the same thing.”

For this weekend’s performance, show-goers could see anything from 40’s song, Take the A Train, to an updated version of the 70’s Carwash.

One thing they are sure to see is a soulful Ray Charles medley.

“That’s been great fun,” Silvay said of performance rehearsals. “With him having just passed away last year, it’s kind of a nice little tribute to him.”

As far as dancing, performances vary widely from song to song. For example, Silvay said: “Car Wash is very funky soft-shoe kind of a thing. (The dancing) really is apropos to what the music wants it to be.”

 The performances, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. Sunday show that includes choir alumni, such as Silvay’s mother, will be held at the Rocky River Senior Center, 21014 Hilliard. Tickets are $10 and part of the proceeds will go to the senior center to be used for transportation. For more information on the group, visit its Web site at www.steppinoutshowchoir.org or call 1-216-973-5563.