Video: Dance Studio Shows Seniors Benefits Of Ballroom Dancing

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Every Monday afternoon for a month, Matt Embler spent an hour or so, teaching 13 residents of Tupelo’s Traceway Retirement Community how to waltz.

The dancers were able to show what they had learned, at the “Traceway Ball.” Even those with walkers were able to get out on the dance floor.

“For most dances, as far as couples dancing, like the waltz, you need a partner, such as a girl and a guy however, with this type of group, what I did was played it by ear and I taught them a waltz line dance,” Embler said.

Embler is one of the instructors at the “Dance Studio” of Tupelo, which partnered with Traceway Retirement Community to show residents the benefits of ballroom dancing. Studies show ballroom dancing may help senior citizens improve balance, mobility and it keeps you thinking.

But most of all, for these dancers, it was a whole lot of fun.

“Just being with everybody and seeing us all be silly, learning,” said Dancer Frances Ramsey.

“It gives us a chance to get out of our rooms, we enjoy being together, having fun and at our age we need to be able to do things that are fun,” said Dancer Jan Wigginton.

Instructor Embler, who is also a United States Marine, says he had as much fun teaching the class as “young at heart” students. Embler points out there is really no age limit when it comes to dancing. He says the oldest student at the dance studio is around 95 years old.

www.thedancestudiotupelo.com