Shelby County seniors take the dance floor

Every Thursday afternoon, Faye Smitherman teaches a dance class at the Chelsea Senior Center. The group, which began in January, has already gained a regular following. This is a volunteer job for her, but she loves it and says she doesn’t mind doing it for free. 

The two-hour meetings include different forms of line dancing as well as contemporary music, including Kelly Clarkson, Pitbull and Jason Derulo. 

“We use a variety of music,” Smitherman said. “People think line dancing is only done to country music, but my playlists includes waltz, cha-cha, rumba, tango and funky. I will ask people their favorite song and I’ll find a dance that goes to it.” 

At a recent meeting in July, the class almost filled the building, with 13 participants and two teachers. Smitherman’s twin sister, Kaye, was on hand to help teach the class. The participants, who must be residents of Shelby County and over age 55, were mostly regular attendees, along with two newcomers. 

The class is designed for people who have been dancing for a while, know the terminology and have progressed from beginner to high beginner. 

The Smitherman sisters spend about five minutes teaching the moves before turning on the music and starting the dance. It’s fine for the participants to take a break or stop when they get tired.

 “Some can’t dance for two hours,” Smitherman said. “We start off with easier dances, and after the ones that are tired leave, we pick back up and do harder ones.”

Abby Westbrook has been dancing for a year, and enjoys attending Smitherman’s Thursday class. 

“Not long after I retired, my friend Barbara and I started going to a class in Pelham and Faye was in that class with us, then she started a class here and got it moving up to the next level,” Westbrook said. “It’s both exercise and fun. It’s addictive, and the people are great.” 

Smitherman said the class is great both for social interaction and health. 

“Dance is exercise in disguise,” she said. “You’re getting exercise, but you’re having so much fun, you don’t think of it as exercise. It keeps us up and mobile and it’s good for your memory have to remember steps coming next.”

Norm Wilson, who attends the class with Nina, his wife of 52 years, started dancing about four years ago for his heart and type 2 diabetes. 

“It makes me feel good,” Wilson said. “My health and memory have both improved. We go to four or five classes a week and dance Saturday nights at Camp Branch Community Center for two hours. I’m down to 164 pounds. I haven’t been down that low in years.”

Shelby County residents can go to any of the senior centers for dance classes. The participants have other opportunities to dance on weekends, at events like Music on Main in Columbiana on Friday nights during the summer, as well as Camp Branch at the Saginaw Civic Center on Saturdays. 

Smitherman said she is looking forward to the opening of the new Chelsea Community Center. Since there will be a larger meeting space, she hopes to be able to offer an easy beginner class, in addition to the one she is currently teaching. 

“It’s going to be nice to have room to expand and have more people,” Smitherman said. “I haven’t publicized it as much because we didn’t have space now more people can come, but my hope for the future is to start an easy beginner class for people who have never danced and want to learn.”

For information on the opening of the community center and dance classes, contact Chelsea City Hall at 678-8455.