Darnell Dance Troupe Performs Throughout Atlanta

The residents of the Arbor Terrace Assisted Living community in southwest Atlanta received a special treat Tuesday.

They were entertained with a performance by the "Darnell Dancing Divas and Dudes."

The dance troupe is composed of a team of senior citizens from the Harriett G. Darnell Senior MultiPurpose Facility, 677 Fairburn Rd. The group include 32 active Darnell members who range in age from 55 to 80-plus years. The troupe began as a part of the center's health and fitness program.

The Divas (female members) and the Dudes (males) perform various types of dances to gospel, jazz, pop and hip hop music. The dance routines are choreographed by Melletta Clayton, the health and fitness program coordinator at the Darnell facility.

Darnell Dancing Divas and Dudes presented its first recital in September of 2007 to a standing-room-only audience at Darnell. They have performed at the Weinstein Center, Marcus Jewish Facility, Somerset Assisted Living facility, the Zeta Phi Beta House, as well at Big Bethel AME Church and various other venues.

"The Divas and Dudes" are not great dancers because of their training," Clayton said, "but because of their passion for dance."

The group will perform next at Faith Temple on Sat., Sept. 24. For information about the dance group, call 404-699-8580.