At its annual meeting, club members elected new officers for the 2012 dance season. The club is celebrating its 44th year dancing in Caldwell where it also offers a twelve week session of dance lessons in both September and January for $36. The next open house will be Tuesday, January 10th at the in Caldwell at 7:30 p.m.
According to the United Square Dancing Association News, square dancing will add ten years to your life, a study shows. Dr. Aaron Blackburn states: "It’s clear that square dancing is the perfect exercise. It combines all positive aspects of intense physical exercise with none of the negative elements." "You don’t see a lot of 55-year-old basketball players, but that’s just the age when square dancers are hitting their peak," he said.
Dr. Blackburn said square dancing is a low impact activity requiring constant movement and quick directional changes that help keep the body in shape. The study was based on their physical examination which indicated that both female and male square dancers could expect to live well into their 80’s. Square dance movements raise heart rates like any good aerobic exercises should. All the quick changes of direction loosen and tone up the muscles – but not so severely as to cause injury. In square dancing, when you’re not moving, you’re clapping hands or tapping feet, all of which contributes to long term fitness.
"It is a great activity for couples, singles, and empty nestors," according to Alice De Lancey, the incoming President. "There are 18 square dance clubs in Northern NJ where dancers can participate in a dance any night of the week. Entrance fees for a 2-3 hour dance range from $4-$6 and everyone is welcomed regardless of their town of residence. New dancers mix with more seasoned ones to enhance their dancing and it is a great social activity where participants can have fun staying fit and healthy."
