The Oak Park Arms retirement community is offering a new class which offers exercise for both the body and the brain. Tap Dance and Chair Tap clinic for seniors will be offered monthly beginning at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, located at 408 S. Oak Park Ave.The clinic is free and open to the public. Tap dance shoes are welcome but not necessary.
Dance instructor Roberta Kulik begins the clinic with 15 minutes of seated warm up followed by a 45 minute tap lesson during which participants may sit or stand.
Desi Valquez, social director, said that the focus of the class has benefits beyond physical exercise. Tap also fosters intellectual stimulation for the brain which is a muscle like any other in the human body.
“The brain needs to be constantly strengthened and challenged,” Valquez said. “Memorization of dance patterns not only offers cardio fitness, but it can have lasting positive effects on seniors. It can help prevent memory loss and other diseases associated with aging. We hope the public will give it a try.”
The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent living and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The class is free and open to the public. For more information contact Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.
