BIG BAND BLAST FROM THE PAST SENIORS CUT A RUG AT MEMORABLE PROM.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The cafeteria was decorated with balloons, pink and white tablecloths, floral centerpieces and a 17-piece band - the expected atmosphere for yet another senior prom.

A senior prom for, well, senior citizens.

``The more we talked to seniors, a lot of them had never been to the prom, either because of the war or the Depression,'' said Jill Harper, an employee at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center who helped organize the area's first prom for the community's more mature set.

``We thought it would be a fun way to start off the high school prom season.''

Held in the College of the Canyons cafeteria Saturday night, the event drew couples dressed in suits and floor-length gowns, black cocktail dresses and snazzy sport coats.

But, in truth, not everyone cutting the rug to the beat of the College of the Canyons Studio Jazz Ensemble was legally considered a senior citizen.

Chuck Eder, 55, and his 54-year-old fiancee, Rosemary Stahlbusch, draped themselves in their evening wear and joined about six other couples on the dance floor.

``This is a great idea. Very clever, very cute,'' Stahlbusch said.

``Our prom was decorated with a theme. But this is a far better band by 1,000 percent.''

The bandleader, 77-year-old Dirk Fischer, played and wrote music for the U.S. Army band in World War II and has directed the jazz studies program at the college for the past 25 years. He led his musicians in old favorites such as ``Hello, Dolly'' and ``Forever and a Day'' as the gray-haired couples spun to the beat.

``This is the first time we've tried this,'' Fischer said of the senior prom. ``But it's fitting because the philosophy of the community college system is continuing education for all ages. We play all kinds of music - polkas, tangos, you name it.''

Harper said the prom, which she hopes will become an annual tradition, is a logical extension to the ballroom and line dancing classes offered at the senior center.

And in keeping with a time-honored tradition, Ray Rhea gave his wife, Margie, a corsage for the evening.

``All those little urchins get to dress up and go to the dances and we have to pay for it,'' Rhea said of the high school events. ``The least we can do is have our own.''

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Chuck Eder, 55, and his fiancee, Rosemary Stahlbusch, 54, dance to Big Band music at the senior prom held Saturday evening at College of the Canyons.

(2 -- 3) Dirk Fisher, 77, above, leads the College of the Canyons Jazz Band during Saturday's senior prom, which featured the vocal stylings of Alice Aguilar, left.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer