Dance classes at Tyler Senior Center offer therapy, exercise

Published 1:41 pm Wednesday, January 20, 2016

John Tolbert, 93, left, joins some of the other dancers in a break during class Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, at the Tyler Senior Center. Mr. Tolbert said he only takes to the floor on slower songs, enjoying the music and the movements of the other Tylerites at the weekly classes between dances. Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph

Penny Davison, 60, has long had an interest in dancing. When she was in school, she enjoyed cheerleading and drill team, but she hasn’t had an outlet to dance much in her adult life, especially since it’s not her husband’s favorite activity.

When she heard about the line dancing class at the Tyler Senior Center about four years ago, she was excited because it gave her the chance to rekindle her old passion.



“When I heard about the line dance, I (said), ‘Great, I can go and dance by myself,'” Mrs. Davison said. “That’s what I did.”

But solo dancing is not exactly what Mrs. Davison found. She joined a line of eager dancers, and now is an instructor for the beginner line dancing class. She is assisted by Jane Praytor, 68, who joined the class as a beginner about eight years ago.

Mrs. Praytor can still recall her first time in the class.

Most Popular

“I just got in line behind them and started watching them and trying to kind of learn on my own, and then after the class, they had a beginner class, so I would stay for that,” Mrs. Praytor said.

Kay Odom, Tyler Senior Center supervisor, said Mrs. Praytor and Mrs. Davison and their willingness to help other seniors learn to line dance is part of what makes the senior center so great.

“They came here needing our service, and now they’re teaching people who are coming in,” Mrs. Odom said. “These are people who had never done that before, and yet they’re gifting the gift back.”

Mrs. Odom and Mrs. Praytor are joined by Lowell Dailey, 80, who has taught the advanced line dancing class for about 13 years.

Although teaching dance steps is a big part of their respective roles, the more important skill might be the encouragement they offer to participants.

“When I see people walk in, I’m prone to want to go help them, because I can remember how I felt when I walked in the first time,” Mrs. Praytor said. “I try to make them feel at home and try to help them with all the steps I can.”

Dailey said he encourages those who are just starting to go home and practice a very special exercise.

“Go home, get off by yourself and double up your fist and say, ‘I can do this! I can do this!'” Dailey said.

Mrs. Odom said those who come in and watch the advanced line dancing class are often intimidated. She said the class has more than 20 different line dances, including the rumba, cha-cha, waltz and others. The beginner class is designed to prepare dancers for the more advanced version by breaking down each step.

Mrs. Davison likens dancing to therapy and said the line dance classes at the Tyler Senior Center are judgment-free zones.

“You’re not inhibited and feel like you’ve got to know it perfect,” Mrs. Davison said. “You just get out there and have fun and nobody cares, and they all help you. It’s just fun.”

Each teacher said classes provide participants valuable exercise.

“We’ve had several success stories in terms of weight loss,” Dailey said. “It’s a wonderful exercise program.”

Mrs. Praytor said that line dancing is so much fun it doesn’t even feel like exercise.

“It has been wonderful. Dancing is good for the mind, body and soul,” she said. “It’s good exercise in that you don’t even think of it that way, because you’re having so much fun.”

The teachers agreed teaching the course has added benefits for them as instructors.

“It’s just wonderful,” Dailey said. “It just makes you happy to be alive that you can help people in that way.”

Twitter: @TMT_Augusta

 

JOIN A CLASS

The advanced line dancing class is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the beginner’s class is from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For information, call the Tyler Senior Center at 903-597-0781, or visit parksandrec.cityoftyler.org.