Line Dancing is the Second Most Popular Thing Seniors Like to Do!
Line dancing is very popular among Senior Citizens. It’s fun, there is great camaraderie among the Seniors, and you don’t need a partner, and it’s an easy way to stay healthy, both mentally and physically.
An Activity Director at a Retirement/Convalescent Home in California told me that line dancing is only second in popularity to square dancing and only because square dancing is an older form of dancing and more Seniors are familiar with it. Also, many Seniors were in square dance clubs and went to meetings each week when they were younger.
At almost any class in line dance instructions, you will see many Seniors. There are several dances suitable for people with limited mobility, such as “Tush Push”, “Electric Slide”, “Country Walkin'”, “Dancin’ with You” and the ever beautiful, “Waltz Across Texas”, which I love to do to Collin Raye’s “Dreamin’ My Dreams of You.” There is even a “sit down” tongue-in-cheek line dance by Knox Rhine called “Take A Break” which doesn’t even need music! Most classes feature easy line dances as well as more advanced.
Health Benefits
The health benefits of line dancing are obvious. Everyone benefits from exercise and line dancing is so much fun, it doesn’t seem like exercise. I read a report that said that people who line dance could possibly live an extra ten years. This may or may not be true, but it’s certainly something to consider.
Here is a list of some of the health benefits you will enjoy if you line dance on a regular basis:
* Cardiovascular and muscular strength and flexibility become better;
* High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels, as well as high blood sugar levels can all improve;
* Coordination improves as you work through the different movements;
* Lung capacity can increase;
* Bone strength can increase; bone loss can be stopped or slowed down
* Help with weight control – half an hour of continuous line dancing can burn an average of 300 calories
* The social aspects of line dancing are obvious. Your sense of well-being and the camaraderie you have with the other dancers is wonderful for your health.
Line Dance Videos are available everywhere
There are many line dance DVDs and videos that Seniors can purchase and use to practice in the privacy of their homes. This is especially good if they are shy about going to a regular class or don’t have a class in their community that teaches line dancing for seniors.
Scooter Lee and Jo Thompson
The lovely and talented singer/songwriter Scooter Lee has many classes targeted towards Seniors through her non-profit organization, Dancing for the Dream®, which she started with choreographer Jo Thompson.
As popular as her music was for line dancing, at first Scooter Lee didn’t line dance herself, even after being diagnosed with numerous health issues and being overweight. Finally, after learning to eat right, exercise, and create good habits in her life with positive thinking and positive people, she included line dancing in her routine for good health. Though the damage to her joints and organs was not reversible, Lee started to pay attention to her own health, eventually losing approximately 150 pounds in five years.
Where to Find Classes for Line Dancin’ Fun
You can find many classes for line dance instructions just for Senior Citizens at Community Centers, Parks and Recreation Departments, and Church Groups all over America, as well as at classes at dance studios.
If you live in the Eastern part of America, check out the classes available through Step In the Name of Life(TM). They have classes in at least 32 cities. Jamie Gant started the first group in Florida so his grandmother would have a place to go to line dance for her health. After going with her, he was ready to start classes for everyone. Their goal: Stepping Away Diabetes, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure & More(TM).