Salem County Arts Alliance 

How the Stompin’ Grannies got their start…

The idea for the Grannies was conceived by Roxanna Hurst in August of 2000 as a skit for the Fox Tale Follies, a variety show produced by the Salem County Arts Alliance in Carneys Point, New Jersey.  Since then, the Grannies have been invited to perform for various organizations and parades, including the Cancer Care Connection’s “Circulus” at the Playhouse in Hotel DuPont, and the University of Delaware’s "Y Chromes" (an all male chorus) 2002 Fall Concert.  They were also filmed for a segment of NJN TV’s “Classroom Closeup," and are often the closing act for the Fox Tale Follies. 

The Grannies were not dancers, they were not singers, they didn't require accompaniment, and no one seems to know quite what they were.  The Grannies were sort of a parody of “Stomp,” a performance group originally from Great Britain and now performing in the United States.  The Grannies used their feet and a variety of common objects to create rhythms: brooms, trash cans, kitchen utensils, bedpans, pill bottles, walkers, and more.  The most important thing was that they had a great deal of fun and proved that you are never too old to kick up your heels and laugh at yourself.  They hope the audienced had as much fun as they did. 

All members are grandmothers aged 59 to 87.  The Grannies are: Roxanna Hurst, retired Art educator; Rae Svecz, retired Gifted and Talented teacher; Lucille Pote, retired school nurse; Tanya Lazar, former managing editor for Philadelphia publishing company Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, now a free-lance editor, actress, and director; Joan Kates, retired public school educator-artist,  Peggy Thomas, retired school psychologist; and Karen Jessee, retired English teacher and current business owner of Simply Organized. 

 The Grannies performed all over the Delaware Valley for groups ranging from children to senior citizens, performing in schools, for organizations, in nursing homes, and for private parties.   All the fees earned were donated to the Arts Alliance to support the Teen Arts Program.  The Grannies have been together since 2000, longer than some rock bands.  The Grannies are still rocking today, not in chairs, but as close friends in a very special sisterhood.