Tapping Their Way to Health

Paula Tarantino began tap dancing at the tender age of 10, when her classes cost $1 per week. A professional dancer, she is also a former Rockette of the famed Radio City Music Hall.

Today, she teaches an hour-long tap dancing class to other seniors  at the Eastchester Senior Center at Lake Isle in Eastchester.

"It's a good way to keep fit," she says, "The doctors tell me whatever I do, don't stop dancing. Dancing makes the brain work, which is the most important thing. It is not only fitness of the body but fitness of the mind."

This reporter visited the class yesterday to mark the 17^th annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day, whose theme this year is "Get Going…Get Fit…Start Today."

Although there are usually about 15 participants in class, yesterday there were only eight. The ladies ranged in age from their late 60's to 90 and were full of spunk, humor, and personality. Some had prior tap dancing experience and others didn't, but they all worked together in a supportive environment.

"Getting older is nothing to be afraid of," said Barbara Schuler of East Yonkers, "It's important to keep moving. I've always been involved in sports. I played sports all throughout high school: basketball, volleyball, softball, and hockey. I swim here every day in the summer. I want to keep that lifestyle going."  

And while some health programs for seniors have a cost attached to them, this one doesn't.

"This class is fun, and I love it. I have been taking this class for four years," Marilynn Stanton of Yonkers explained, "I used to attend Silver Sneakers, which is a fitness program for seniors.  But, my health insurance wouldn't pay for it. This program is fantastic because it's free. That's perfect."

Lake Isle is the headquarters for senior events in the area. They have many daily events and activities, as well as ongoing health-related activities throughout the year: early bird swim, aqua aerobics, chair yoga, country line western, and more.

"Our center provides physical activity for everyone at their personal level of need, ranging from light or moderate, all the way to the advance level," said Norah Rossi, Nutrition Program Director at the Lake Isle Senior Center, "We have certified exercise instructors that have training in working with the elderly, but our dance classes are taught by volunteers that are seniors themselves."

After the ladies had an impressive warm up, this reporter was pulled into the action as the ladies practiced a new routine to the song Tea for Two, followed by a number to the popular song Mambo #5. No, I didn't have on tap shoes—I was wearing flip-flops, which are not really great shoes to for dancing—but one of the women pulled out a pair of ped socks from her bag for me to dance in. 

In between routines one participant remarked, "Is the air conditioning on? I am getting hot."

Another responded, "Of course, but you know we're all hotties!" An outburst of laughter in agreement followed. 

Class ended a few minutes early due to a special singing performance some of the ladies were participating in at a local nursing home. Others were planning to stay for lunch.

"Most things in life revolve around meals. Here at Lake Isle it is no different," said Rossi, "The social aspect of meeting others for conversation and interaction is important because it makes people feel like they have a purpose."

She continued, "We encourage our seniors to stay for lunch and relax if they don't have other plans for the day. Every lunch is well balanced, planned by a nutritionist, and prepared in a regional kitchen.  Each meal provided a third of the RDA daily requirement, which promotes healthy living."