The day the stars came out

And the Oscars went to … everyone who came to our March 2 USA Dance dressed as a movie star or film character!

We rolled out a real red carpet (OK, a tiny one) for our dance, which took place the same day as the real Academy Awards. Dancers transformed themselves into current and historical actors and characters that rivaled anything happening at the other event. Our stars even took home their own, six-inch-tall Oscars.

Hosting the dance was “Marilyn Monroe” (chapter President Rosie Harper), whose dark sunglasses protected her from a blindingly white mink stole — and, of course, from the pesky paparazzi. The Academy Awards dance was one of several themed events Rosie has planned for 2025.

Silent film stars “Lulu Brooks”and “Rudolph Valentino” (dance teachers Brenda Lamon and Joseph Gonzales) got the party started with an International Tango lesson.

“Bonnie and Clyde” (member Janis Pullen and instructor Stefan Easter) entertained dancers with a “gangster-style” West Coast Swing performance to the song “Gangster of Love.”

Other famous guests included “Clint Eastwood” and “Cruella De Vil” (Larry Parks and Pat Branwen); several characters from “Grease” (board member Annie Irizari, Doug McClellan, and Eileen Tenn); “Indiana Jones” (board member Greg Collison); and “Lana Turner” and “Clark Gable” (Rosemarie Stansbury and Conrad Bryan).

Also joining the festivities were “Ginger Rogers 50 years later” (Jewel Paur); “Jane Fonda” (Becky Pierce); “Doris Day” (Ellen Wilsey); “Joy” from the movie “Inside Out” (Club founder Anna Watkins), and “Kojak” (Alfonso Guzman), who got to ask “Who Loves Ya?”

A couple of film extras attended (Alec and Karen Wallentinsen), along with the members of the set crew Zinas Crooks and Cora Bejune.

DJ Andy Nelson drew from several film scores to craft a movie-heavy playlist. Songs included “Do You Love Me” from “Dirty Dancing,” an East Coast swing; “Wind Beneath My Wings” (from “Beaches”) and “Hopelessly Devoted To You” (from “Grease”) as Nightclub Two-Steps; and “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” (“Toy Story”), “One,” and “Hello Dolly” as foxtrots.

Waltzes included “Moon River,” from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and the theme from “Papillon.”

From “Scent of a Woman” came the tango “Por Una Cabeza.” Quicksteps included “Lullaby of Broadway” and “I Wanna Be Like You” (from “Jungle Book.”)

And it wouldn’t be a movie themed dance without “Stayin’ Alive” from “Saturday Night Fever.”