Sunday, January 14, 2007
It's not the latest dance craze anymore, but to Longview Active Advantage Dancers, line dancing is the best dancing.
* update video ID (3386, for example) on image and text Within the advanced class is a group of 16 ladies who dance at the annual Texas State Jamboree and perform for nursing homes and retirement centers around town.
The team is made up of: Karen Adams, Linda Baker, JoAnn Ford, Maxie Ford, Ruth Gallien, Helene Hall, Janis Henderson, Anneke Hill, Terrie Lindsey, Pat Mattox, Ruth Ann Muffler, Charlotte Obertheir, Becky Rowe and Ruphelle Swanzy.
The program is designed to keep seniors active in fun ways, and Adams, who has been dancing for two years, says that it certainly succeeds.
"We really do have a great time dancing," she said.
It's not just the enthusiasm of a short-term dancer.
Anneke Hill, who has been dancing for 19 years and has been with Active Advantage since it began in 2000, heartily seconded Adams' opinion.
"I couldn't do without it," she said, "I've made some dear friends.
Line dancing originated in the 1970's, according to Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia.
Dancers do not have partners, and dance in a line, although several lines may be formed if enough dancers are participating.
Although it is generally associated with country and western music, its origins are in the disco period, and many dances today are done to other styles of music.
Dorothy Stratton, who teaches the advanced line dance class at Active Advantage, said that she uses songs from the big band era to the "oldies," as well as country, and that the styles aren't always what people think of as line dancing.
"People wanted it more complicated so they started using different styles (of music)," she said, adding that she uses choreographers from England and South America for the dances she teaches.
The night club Graham Central Station uses line dancing as a transition from a country and western set to a dance set, according to Bill Willis, Vice President of Operations of Keith Lawyer Management, managers of the club. He also said that the majority of the dances are set to country music, but they also use "retro" style and old Top 40 songs.
Line dancing is a good form of exercise. Wendell Nelson, the dance director for Billy Bob's Texas honky tonk in Fort Worth, said that one hour of line dancing is equal to a low-impact workout.
"I've had numerous people who have told me that their doctors recommended that they start dancing," he said.
Adams said that her children have teased her about dancing for exercise, but she challenged them to come try it themselves and then see what they say.
"It's a fun way to exercise, and you don't feel like you're exercising," she said.
The fact that line dancing does not require a partner is an attraction to some dancers, like Adams.
She loves to dance, but said that her husband doesn't, so line dancing was her only option. For some people, however, it seemed to be a drawback.
According to Nelson, line dancing took a long time to become popular in Texas.
"I guess it's because Texas is what you might call a 'macho' state," he said, "It took forever to get guys out there dancing by themselves. Now they realize that's where the women are."
Willis pointed out that while line dance is popular in Florida and Tennessee, Texans seem to prefer "touch dances" where the man and the woman interact on the dance floor.
Nelson chose to put a more positive spin on it.
"You're bound to meet someone, if you keep coming."
While the Active Advantage dancers aren't looking for romance, they have made many friends in the lines.
"I was born in Holland, so when I came to Texas in '96, I didn't know a soul," Hill said, "I've made so many sweet friends."
Hill was a teacher at Active Advantage since its beginning until the start of the new year. She taught all three levels of dance, but began giving her classes to others as she began to burn out.
She is still involved with the exhibition team, and plans to continue with it.
"I'm still dancing," she said, "I'm just in line now."
Ruphelle Swanzy, who is 81 and has been dancing for 6 years, said that the friendships are what keeps her dancing.
"I've just enjoyed it and have met so many nice people," she said, "I think the friendship, the closeness is what I've gotten out of it."
While line dance seems to be concentrated in the senior adult ranks, Nelson said that he sees whole families dancing together at Billy Bob's.
"I don't think it will ever be as big as couple dancing, but I think it's got its own niche, and I don't think it's going anywhere.
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That is good news for the Active Advantage dancers. Swanzy intends to dance as long as she can keep up, and Adams says she'll do it as long as she can.
"I told my husband that I wanted to find something that I liked as much as he likes hunting," she said, "And I did.
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Cox Newspapers, L.P. - -
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