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Ballroom Dancing Keeps Seniors Active and Social
By Mallary Jean Tenore, Dallas Morning News
November 17, 2008
Diane Ruede and Al Jensen spin to a stop at Plano Senior Recreation Center. The communal nature of dancing provides health benefits.
Many seniors are in North Texas are turning to ballroom dancing to keep active and socially connected. Ballroom dancing allows seniors to challenge their auditory, visual and mental abilities as they have to remain alert, coordinated and moving swiftly. Seniors are inspired by the popular TV show Dancing With the Stars, which features older celebrities doing the fox trot, cha-cha, salsa, tango and other choreographed dancing. However, seniors who are especially frail and susceptible to falls should refrain should be careful when dancing.
Ruby Nickens shimmies across the dance floor, her hands waving, her hips swaying. Her dance partners have trouble keeping up.
"We've got to dance by the fan so I can cool off," 90-year-old Ms. Nickens says. "I'm working up a sweat."
Much like 82-year-old Cloris Leachman from this season's Dancing With the Stars, Ms. Nickens moves with impressive agility and speed.
Every week, she joins about 150 seniors in dancing the fox trot, cha-cha, salsa and tango at Plano Senior Recreation Center. She's one of many North Texas seniors who use ballroom dancing for exercise, saying it helps them stay fit, happy and connected.
Dr. Robert K. Rosen, an internist at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, says ballroom dancing has several health benefits for senior citizens. In particular, he says the communal nature of dancing helps keep them from becoming isolated or lonely.
"I think anything that can be done to keep them active and interested and involved is an excellent idea," Dr. Rosen says.
"Ballroom dancing really does challenge every part of your system, from your hearing, vision, mental alertness to coordination and your cardiovascular system."
Seniors who have frail bones should be careful when ballroom dancing, Dr. Rosen says, as they are more likely to be injured if they fall.
Partly inspired by Dancing With the Stars, some seniors dance to compete.
Dale Miller, 67, started dancing three years ago and competed this fall in the Southwestern Invitational DanceSport Championship in Dallas. She takes weekly lessons at Plano Senior Recreation Center from Jesse Verdin, 77, who has taught dancing for more than 55 years.
"If you want to do it and you have a little rhythm, you can do it," says Ms. Miller, who lives in Farmers Branch. "I just wish I had started dancing 30 years ago."
Kylie Fransden has taught several seniors who dance competitively.
"The competitions are sort of like the Super Bowl of football," says Mr. Fransden, a dance instructor at iDance2 Ballroom Dancesport Studio in Plano.
Like Arthur Murray dance studios and USA Dance Dallas, iDance2 offers lessons.
"They all danced back in their day, and now they want to continue to do so," Mr. Fransden says.
Every Friday night, iDance2 holds open sessions that attract twentysomethings, octogenarians and others. The men wear nice pants, and many women wear skirts or dresses and high heels. Evening attire isn't necessary, Mr. Fransden says, but it adds to the fun and recalls a time when dressing up to go dancing was the norm.
Kaaren Teuber, 67, who organizes the ballroom-dance festivities at Plano Senior Recreation Center, agrees.
"I've gone through times when I was having a foot problem and I was wearing flats, and other times I was in heels again," she says. "Whatever you're comfortable in is acceptable."
In the three years that she has run the sessions, Ms. Teuber has met seniors who were active in their youth and want to remain that way and those who discovered dance only recently.
Ballroom dancing, she says, also tends to be popular among older men and women who have lost their spouses. Eight male dance hosts of various ages attend the weekly dance sessions to partner with women who arrive alone.
"You don't have to have a partner," Ms. Teuber says, noting that anyone 50 or older can attend. "There's normally an overwhelming amount of ladies, which makes it real easy for the dance hosts to find someone to dance with."
Erik Myklebost, 66, dances nearly every night as a host at four senior centers.
"Ballroom dancing is the best exercise there is," says Mr. Myklebost, who met his girlfriend while dancing at Carrollton Senior Center. "It's fun doing it, especially when you're dancing with the ladies."
In the past year and a half, the North Dallas resident has lost 23 pounds and says he hopes to lose 13 more.
On a recent night at the Plano center, Mr. Myklebost walks toward the women waiting for partners. He eyes Ms. Nickens.
"Will you have this dance?" he asks. Ms. Nickens has no trouble finding partners.
"I'm kind of flirty," she whispers to a friend as Mr. Myklebost sweeps her off her feet.
Ruby Nickens, 90, and Max Meldrum, 84, dance for fun and fitness at Plano Senior Recreation Center.
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