On early Saturday mornings, I go to Sunrise Senior Retirement Home in Plano, Texas. I choose to go to the retirement home to teach dance classes because working with the elderly and seeing the reactions from them fills me with joy. Every time I walk in, the seniors usually look
lethargic, tiresome, or sleepy. However, I see their faces suddenly change as I turn on 70’s tunes and start the chair exercises. They start smiling and laughing showing more coherence and cognition. Often they sing along to the songs. I love being able to witness their memories
come alive all because of the music.
One Saturday, I put on modern music. An older man wanted me to play “Wobble Baby” by V.I.C. I was so confused and surprised as to how he even knew about the song. Surprisingly, most of them liked the song. It made me smile that the older gentleman knew all of the words.
I’m supposed to teach them routines, but not all of followed my lead. One woman soaked in the music waving her hands smiling as the tunes played because she can’t move her legs. Another man sits and watches. I like to be able to see that each person get something different out of my program.
I like when the people at the retirement home tell me stories about their lives or ask about my life. One man talked to me about being in the army. They also ask me questions about where I’m going to school, and one woman even asked if I was married. That made me laugh, and I
had to remind her I am still in high school. She told me she was married at 16. I’ve also been asked how many children I want to have and showed interest in seeing me perform ballet. I get to learn about their lives and their youth outside of the retirement home.