COEUR d'ALENE - Two weeks before the Fourth of July, the Blazen Divaz danced in the rain.

They wore slickers and patriotic attire as they practiced their parade routine in the Lake City High School parking lot.

They marched. They did some line kicks. They boogied to the music.

"It could be pouring down rain and we'll still be there doing the performance," said Chris Eden, 54, of Coeur d'Alene.

Eden is among the 35 parade dance members who will be dazzling audiences in this year's Fourth of July parade. When she is not being a Diva, she works as an administrative assistant at a manufacturing plant. She has been with the Blazen Divaz since the group began in 2010.

She said when she first auditioned, she was nervous she would make a fool out of herself, but she found her anxiety was unwarranted.

"They were really warm and welcoming," she said. "I'm glad I did it."

She said the dressing-up aspect of the group also helps get rid of any performance anxiety.

"Don't be shy. Once you put on the costume, you're not you anymore," she said. "Once you put that hat on, you're a totally different person."

People may know the Divaz from their colorful characters, glitz, glam, music and choreographic prowess. They inject humor and kicks into their routines, as well as eye-winking and kiss-blowing. They can annually be seen in the Fourth of July parade, but their calendar of performances is full year-round. Some members practice up to four times a week, especially with the Fourth quickly approaching.

Their theme this year is "Patriotic Cowboy" and the Divaz will be marching the parade route to the Brooks and Dunn song "Mama Don't Get Dressed Up for Nothing."

Red, white and blue feathers danced in the wind as they leapt from Diva Kay Mills' cowgirl hat during the drizzly parade rehearsal. Mills, 63, of Coeur d'Alene, said she enjoys many aspects of being a Diva.

"(It's) the fun of entertaining, the people, the crowds, making them smile, giving them something to be happy about," she said as she stopped to tie her shoe. Mills was a majorette in high school and has been a baton twirler since she was 7.

Parade director Nel Hubbard, 56, of Rathdrum, said she likes teaching the Divaz new routines and watching them blossom.

"They doubt themselves, they don't think they can do it, some people get injured," she said, "but when we get to the final product, it all comes together. They give 110 percent, and they do great."

Hubbard joked that she blows the whistle and cracks the whip, and that she sometimes jumps in mud puddles behind rehearsing Divaz to get them all wet.

"But they just laugh and keep going," she said with a giggle.

Eden said the Divaz get winks from plenty of people during parades and performances.

"They don't look at us like we're old enough to be their mother, or grandmother," she said. "I don't think any of us act our age."

The Divaz range in age from their 30s to 70s, with the median age somewhere in the upper 50s. But like a little precipitation, age can't stop their happy feet.

"We're a fun group that's always looking for new members," Hubbard said. "Don't be afraid to come join us, because everyone can do what we do with practice."

And the group isn't limited to women. The Diva Dudez help with heavy lifting, clear the parade path of obstructions and assist the Divaz.

"They help us, they're really good," Eden said. They also ensure the Divaz are safe during performances.

Blazen Divaz training coordinator and manager John Parmann said they do a lot of work, but the effort is worth it. The smiles on the faces of children and elderly alike is more than satisfying.

"They light up when we come," he said. "That??s the payback for all this."

Catch the Divaz and their Dudez in the parade July 4, and you just might find yourself dancing along as they boogie on by.