Seniors find new home for line dancing group
BUTLER TWP — The dance floor may be new for the group of seniors who get together every Monday to line dance together, but the steps remain the same.
The senior line dancing group moved its meeting place from the Tanglewood Center to American Legion Post 778, when the longtime base for the group was sold in November.
But the change in venue hasn’t bothered any of the members. The American Legion is close to the old dance hall. The dance floor is bigger and newer than the Tanglewood Center’s.
“It’s very nice, it’s a nice place to dance,” said Ben Crawford, who has attended the line dancing sessions for a few years.
The group meets at 12:30 p.m. every Monday at the American Legion to dance. The cost to participate is $2 per session. Some longtime and experienced members of the group teach the rest of the attendees the steps to each song before starting it. Then, they shout out instructions throughout to help beginners keep up with the moves.
The songs range from oldies like “How Sweet It Is,” by James Taylor, to more recently released tunes like the “Cha-Cha Slide.” Each song has a dance with steps that repeat themselves throughout the entire song. Even when someone is struggling at first, they usually get it down by the time the song fades out.
About 27 people attended the session on Monday, Feb. 2, some of them for the first time. One of the dance leaders, Sue Boettner, said the move to the American Legion has brought more people to the sessions. The wide open dance floor and stage area where leaders can teach from make it possible for even more people to come.
“We’re getting more and more people every time,” Boettner said.
The regulars of the line continue to attend the sessions as well.
Lavina McGill-Leiner has been going for years. She calls out steps from the dance floor to help newbies get the hang of it. She said dancing is not only a great social activity, but it also helps keep the body and mind active if done consistently.
“This helps our balance, it helps our memories,” McGill-Leiner said.
Pamela Karenbauer, one of the coordinators of the line dancing group, said the American Legion gave the group a good deal, allowing people who attend to continue to pay the same fee as they did at the Tanglewood Center to participate.
“They have been so kind and supportive,” Karenbauer said. “We can continue to have fellowship and a new home to dance.”
Line dancing sessions begin at the American Legion, 150 Legion Memorial Lane, Butler Township, at 12:30 p.m. on Mondays, and the cost is a $2 donation to attend.
