14 IRISH DAILY STAR Tuesday March 19 2019 BIG WEEKEND AHEAD FOR IRISH REALITY TV ‘Lovely’ Mairead is EXERCISE: Loretta Yurick leads seniors at dance class Senior citizens are dancing their way a Ward winner... n RIVAL JOHNNY TIPS to a fitter lifestyle RONAN TO EDGE DWTS TALENT: Johnny n Laura COLGAN Ward and his pro dance partner DANCE fever is spreading Emily Barker in across Ireland — and young-at- the semi-final heart senior citizens are now putting on their dancing shoes to twirl, whirl and dance their way to fitness. Hundreds of older people are shunning bingo and bridge in favour of Well Dance for Seniors — a class devised for older people, drawing in hun- dreds of pensioners each week. The class, created by Dance Theatre of Ireland’s (DTI) artistic directors Robert Connor and Loretta Yurick, VIBRANT: Attendees at the Well Dance for Seniors, (below) Robert consists of a warm-up, improv- Connor and The Star’s Laura Colgan (right) take part in a routine isation, rehearsed routines, partner work and a cool-down. The Star visited a class at DTI’s Centre for Dance in Dun Laoghaire last Tuesday to find around 40 senior citizens clap- ping their hands, tapping their feet and shaking their hips to tunes such as Elvis’s All Shook Up and The Pointer Sisters’s Jump For My Love. Turnout Patricia Connolly, who start- ed taking the classes after her husband died, said the big turnout proves older people punishment for sitting down. Everyone has things in their don’t deserve to be written off. You can join back in when you ears and isn’t paying attention She said: “We want to get out have your breath back. It’s a to anything around them. It’s there and rock. The music is priority.” just a lonely workout. great and it’s a big part of it. Bill Roe, who was one of only “Here, it’s fun and it is “I started for the exercise. I two men in the class, said he’d aerobic exercise. This is ideal never danced before but I’ve like to see more male partici- for the older person.” really gotten into it. pants each week, particularly Some participants are also “The classes are social. As it after seeing rugby star Peter part of Vintage Youth, an goes on, you certainly settle in. Stringer strut his stuff on ensemble that performs in I definitely feel better in RTE’s Dancing With The Stars. front of a theatre audience. myself. I find that not only He said: “We really would Thrilling dancing, knowing your left like more men to be dancing. Peter Stringer, after seeing him Bill, who performed at the from your right and keeping DLR Lexicon alongside his your rhythm is good.” in Dancing with the Stars, will hopefully encourage more men classmates, said it was a thrill- And Annie Holbrook Goetz, ing experience: “I was so from Monkstown, Dublin, said to dance. “If someone like him can do nervous at first but once I was dance is a great outlet for older out there, it was a thrill. I’d do people. She said: “You become it, any man can do it. I’ve got over feeling isolated. it again in a heartbeat.” invisible as you get older so The Well Dance for Seniors this is a wonderful idea. “I’m used to it now but it would be nice to see more men programme is the first of its “It really is exercise and kind in Ireland and has even keeps you fit. It’s good for your in the classes.” And Bill, from Ranelagh, said been studied by the School of head. You leave everything at Occupational Therapy at the door... You take the class at the classes are a great alterna- tive to gym workouts: “Once Trinity College Dublin. your own pace. You’re not More than 800 people have forced to do anything. you get to a certain age, the gym isn’t for most people. taken part to date and it is “You do what you can and sit extending across Dublin. down if you like. There’s no “There is no social life to it. HEARTBROKEN: Johnny with his late dad John, also (inset) above.