Jenny – Young at Heart Dance Club

I was a senior social worker for over thirty years, specialising in vulnerable adults and people with dementia.

When I retired I wanted to continue to support older people, helping them conquer isolation and improve their physical and mental health. My father was a pastor and I grew up in a house full of love. We were brought up to care for others and it’s something I’m still passionate about.

My husband Hughie and I have been dancing for around twenty years and know all about its health benefits.

We now run a dance club called ‘Young at Heart’, every Thursday at our local community centre. Everyone is welcome. We have around 50 regulars; our youngest dancers are in their mid- fifties and we have several attendees in their nineties (our eldest being 97).

We’re not teachers, but we do show people how to do ‘sequence dancing’. This is a style of partner dancing where couples perform the same pre-arranged routines together. This could be a waltz, rumba or cha cha for example.

As well as keeping physically active, it helps people’s memories as they learn different steps. It’s great fun and you can see their sense of achievement when they master a new dance.

Some people come along purely for the music. They may be unable to dance themselves but they enjoy chatting to one another while watching the dancers perform. It makes them feel part of this world.

Hughie and I volunteer our time and there’s small fee to cover hall hire and refreshments. We also apply for grants to allow us to fund coach trips or host themed tea dances. We’ve formed a committee and are planning new social events for the group like an afternoon dance followed by fish & chips and a quiz.

We absolutely love it. It keeps us young and has expanded our group of friends locally.