Fancy Footwork

Ballroom dancing has long been touted for its health benefits to dancers of all ages. Better posture, strengthened core muscles and increased flexibility are a few of the benefits and, for more than 70 years, Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Fort Wayne has taught senior citizens how to waltz and cha cha their way to better health and more active social lives.

Anna Baeten, Fort Wayne franchise co-owner, says students range from people in their 20s to those in their 80s, and senior citizens make up a large portion of the student population. The oldest student her studio ever had, who passed away this year, was 94. 

“She was active until the end of her life,” Baeten says. “She had a lesson the week before she died.”

Staying healthy and social well into the golden years is one of Baeten’s main goals for her senior students. 

“Keeping them active several times a week is important,” she says. “We worry about them when they stop coming.”

David Laws, 66, is one student who doesn’t plan to stop attending classes anytime soon. He started taking lessons at Arthur Murray four years ago in preparation for the father-daughter dance at his oldest daughter’s wedding. He was pleased with how he performed during the momentous dance, and after the wedding he wasn’t ready to stop taking lessons.

“Arthur Murray is like a little family,” Laws says. “We have a lot of friends there that we made over the course of the year, and so we’ve kept going.”

Laws and his wife, Helen, take one individual lesson and one joint lesson each week. The individual time allows them to work on the different techniques of leading and following, and the joint session is a time of teamwork and even playful rivalry. 

“We criticize each other,” he says with a laugh. “With Helen and me, there’s always some friendly competition.” 

Baeten says most of the senior students haven’t danced before, but the initial lessons start off slowly for students of all ages as they learn the basic steps. 

“It’s not like jumping into an aerobics class where it’s immediately very athletic,” she says. “It becomes more athletic as you get better at it.”

Baeten also acknowledges the social aspect of ballroom dancing and the type of atmosphere Arthur Murray fosters.  

“For most of our students, a huge part of their social life is built around it,” she says.  “It gives them something to do that’s enjoyable and fun.”

Although the majority of students take lessons as couples, Baeten stresses that a partner isn’t needed for any of the dances at Arthur Murray, and many people sign up for classes as singles.

Gladys Dormire, 67, started at Arthur Murray as part of a couple but has continued taking lessons by herself. She and her husband, Robert, began classes 17 years ago; they danced together for five years, until Robert had to stop taking classes because of health issues. Dormire kept dancing and doesn’t plan to stop. 

“It grows on you,” she says. “Besides my church, it’s probably the most social thing I do.”

Dormire enjoys dancing for the social aspect, but she has noticed the physical benefits as well. 

“I’m more flexible and have more muscle strength,” she says. “It’s physically challenging, which is good, because when we get older we tend to not be as active.”

Dormire attends private lessons once a week and the studio parties every Friday night, which bring together dancers from the two Fort Wayne locations for dancing and socialization.

Baeten says she thinks the couple-centric environment of the parties and other events make senior students feel more comfortable and says it’s a good atmosphere for older singles.  

“We have a lot of singles who are recently divorced, they’ve lost a spouse or something like that, so they’re looking for something that is social but not date oriented” she says. 

Along with the health and social benefits, ballroom dancing helps seniors stay mentally active as well. 

Ballroom dancing is one of the best things seniors can do,” Baeten says. “It combines mental and physical acuity and musical interaction in a unique way.”

Baeten says the instructors take seniors’ health and abilities into account when structuring lessons. But, an important aspect of ballroom dancing that builds self-confidence is showing students of all ages that they’re capable of more than they might realize. 

“I think that it’s very normal for people to coddle seniors,” she says. “This is a good environment because we try to teach them in a way that makes them as active as they can be, that’s still physically comfortable for them."