Dancers prove age is just a number

TORONTO – “Five, six, seven, eight!”

Dance counts have become familiar to the line dancers at L’Amoureux Community Centre.  But what makes these dance classes special?  It’s the participants involved.  These intermediate and advanced line dancing classes are  geared toward older adults, all of whom are aged 60 years or older.

Proving that age is just a number, married-couple Lois and Ross Bradshaw (both 80-years-old) first introduced the classes to the community centre 22 years ago and haven’t missed a beat since.

“I do the choreographing, a lot of it, and teaching the steps,” Line Dancing Instructor Lois Bradshaw said.  “And Ross does all the music, so it keeps him very busy and keeps him out of my hair!”

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Married for almost 60 years, Lois and Ross work together to make sure their dancers are both physically and socially active, something 85-year-old participant Jean O’Bright is thankful for.

“There are about 200 of us, 75 in each class,” O’Bright explained.  “You know, lots of us are widows and the thing is that we can meet people to go to movies, for dinners, it’s wonderful.  It’s a phenomenon.”

It could go without saying that the classes not only have obvious health benefits but aid in surrounding their line dancers with a solid group of companions too.

It’s not expensive to try it out. $20 for nine weeks of  two hour classes.  But be warned, these popular classes have waiting lists.

If you or a friend is interested in participating in these classes, contact the L’Amoureux Community Centre in Scarborough fore more information.