Line dancing keeps seniors active, connected
BUTLER TWP — The people gathered at the Tanglewood Center on Sept. 8 were getting their steps in — literally.
While the dance steps the crowd of about 25 women and one man did not necessarily present a high-intensity workout, several of them took out their folding fans to cool themselves off after each song.
Because as explained by Sue Boettner, who led the line dancing session on Sept. 8, the dancing is mostly meant to be a fun way for people to keep their feet moving no matter how old they get.
“We’re not not getting exercise,” Boettner said. “It keeps us moving, keeps your legs active.”
Line dancing started at the Tanglewood Center decades ago, with a group of women who played songs in the main hall to dance along to. The tradition has continued, even now as the Tanglewood Center may be sold.
Many of the songs played at the Monday sessions have their own dance steps, like “Electric Slide” and “Cotton-Eyed Joe,” while others are a little more obscure.
But even if you don’t recognize a song, the ladies at the front of the line are there to help.
Before starting a song, Boettner demonstrates the steps to it by counting out loud and sometimes clapping along, so people know what to do and how to move. When the music starts, she continues to dance the steps, and yells out any changes to help the beginners catch on.
Sometimes, the front of the line becomes a side, and even the back row of the dancers, who turn a different direction as part of the dance steps. It’s still nothing to fear for new dancers.
“A lot of the girls help out,” Boettner said. “If you get lost, just go with what you are used to.”
Most of the dances use similar steps — right leg out and back in, then left leg out and back in were commonly used in the songs — but Boettner said the rhythm of the music and the social part of it all keeps the weekly sessions ever entertaining.
Joyce Curtician has been attending the line dances for about 16 years, and didn’t sit down between any of the dances Sept. 8.
She is a member of the fan club — the women who break out folding fans to cool down — but she stayed on her feet the whole time.
“It’s just a love of dancing,” Curtician said. “I can dance for three hours but they only give us an hour-and-a-half.”
She added that some of the steps the group learns in the Monday sessions can be transposed to other songs, which throws some newcomers of the Tanglewood Center for a loop.
“We can dance our dances to different songs,” Curtician said.
Diana McRoberts frequently leads the line dances, and said the sessions are good for anyone to attend, because they can all be done solo, but in a group. She said at an August dance session that many people, herself included, have found community in line dancing at the Tanglewood Center.
“All these ladies who don’t have a husband — they’re widowed, divorced, single — they can get up and dance,” McRoberts said. “That’s the purpose is being able to get up and dance without a partner.”
Lavina McGill-Leiner was speaking out the steps as she was doing them Sept. 8, and agreed that attending the dance sessions also helps her socially. She also said she lost a husband years ago, and the dance sessions have given her a haven for communication.
“Connectivity,” McGill-Leiner said. “It’s what we all need.”
Lynette Rossi, another longtime Tanglewood Center dancer, and said the dance sessions are the most friendly places to be.
“We’ve all become one big family” Rossi said. “And we do get the exercise.”
Boettner gave everyone a break after about eight songs, at which point many of the women drank some water, sat down to rest their legs and spoke to some of their friends who hadn’t been to a session in a week or two.
Boettner said some people attend the sessions when they are not in the best place mentally or even physically, but it all goes away when they dance in a group. She said she sees smiles on everyone’s faces as she turns around to look behind her while leading a line dance.
“Dancing cures everything,” Boettner said.
