Tapping a life rhythm

Residents, visitors and friends at the Huntington Gardens senior apartments were treated to more than 100 years of talent Tuesday night.

The evening was arranged by Sid Hallburn, a local martial artist and dancer who’s well experienced in life.

Hallburn spent his youth tagging along the heels of cinematic giants like Mickey Rooney and Gene Kelly.

“I learned a lot just being around those great stars,” Hallburn said. “I kept my mouth shut and my eyes open.”

After World War II, the Army veteran (and boxer) taught martial arts, married and had several children.

Today, Hallburn keeps busy with patriotic activities and performing with a local family of musicians.

Dylan Aragon, 12, is an award-winning karate performer with an equally spot-on ear for the drums.

He opened the show with a blistering drum solo, changing tempos and beats.

His sister Taylor, 10, is a precocious singer who evokes Margaret O’Brien with her ingenuous expressions and endearing lisp.

Their father, Donald, smiled onstage like a pro, curls askew, whether he was picking out a Hawaiian tune or ripping on an electric guitar.

A special guest was their young friend Samantha, whose costume changes Tuesday night rivaled that of Elizabeth Taylor in “Cleopatra.” Samantha recently won a dance competition in Hawaii, beating out native performers, Hallburn said. She taught three volunteers from the audience how to hula.

Then Hallburn — in a red coat, white trousers and black tap shoes — took the stage.

“To tell you the truth, I never stopped dancing,” he said.

He started off showing the audience different tap techniques on wooden boards, while sitting down.

“You don’t see too much of that anymore,” he said.

Then, despite hip replacements, Hallburn acted out a song in which a young man met the woman of his dreams while out dancing.

Later Taylor performed “America the Beautiful,” a fitting choice for Inauguration Day.

“Every time I hear that song, I almost cry,” Hallburn said.

Finally, Hallburn brought out his mentor: Bill Tapia, one of the world’s oldest performers, who still makes concert appearances with his ukulele at the young age of 101.

“He was my old teacher from when I was a kid at MGM Studios,” Hallburn said.

Tapia jammed at Huntington Gardens with Pat “Palika” Enos, an island performer whose father used to work with Tapia.

The two got back in touch several years ago.

Tapia, a Westminster resident, is from Hawaii, and left school at the age of 12 for a career in vaudeville. He performed with luminaries like Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby and more, and performed at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s grand opening in 1927.

Today, he still teaches about 20 music students per week, and maintains a packed performance schedule.

“The charm of Bill is that he’s the exact opposite of Alzheimer’s,” Enos said.

“Bill remembers everything since he was 4 ½ years old.”

The two performed Willie Nelson’s “Crazy,” the Hawaiian classic “Little Grass Shack” and one of Tapia’s own compositions.

“We’re wishing you many, many more musical years, and may God continue to bless you,” Hallburn told Tapia.

Despite personal losses and health issues, Hallburn himself continues to strive forward as well.

“I have a new motto for myself, since I’ve had some tough luck,” Hallburn said.

“‘It’s time to shine in 2009, because everything will be just fine, all the time.’ And since I changed my thinking, things are a lot better.”

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.