For one group of Lake Area ladies, age is just a number and nothing can keep them down.
They call themselves the Diamond Dancers, and they do indeed sparkle, right down to their bedazzled shoes.
I caught up with these gals in January, during their first rehearsal after a holiday break. They didn't miss a beat.
The Diamond Dancers include seventeen energetic ladies ranging in age from near 60 to over 80. The group formed in 2002 when 70-year-old team captain Mimi Hayes (third from right in front row below) joined a local dance troupe to compete in the Senior Olympics. Now they volunteer as ambassadors for southwest Louisiana. They will perform approximately 40 shows this year; for tourist groups, festivals, conventions, and other events.
Most of these ladies have had no formal dance training; they just love to dance! They rehearse twice a week for two or more hours at Westlake’s Managan Recreation Center. This close-knit group enjoys not only dancing but socializing together. They celebrate birthdays, holidays and take field trips.
Co-captain Sandra Tarou (second from right in back row below) joined the Diamond Dancers in 2008 because she wanted a fun physical outlet. “We show the community that no matter how old you are, you can still enjoy exercise and it can be fun,” she says. “You can be physically active, even at our age.”
I caught up with these gals in January, during their first rehearsal after a holiday break. They didn't miss a beat.
The Diamond Dancers include seventeen energetic ladies ranging in age from near 60 to over 80. The group formed in 2002 when 70-year-old team captain Mimi Hayes (third from right in front row below) joined a local dance troupe to compete in the Senior Olympics. Now they volunteer as ambassadors for southwest Louisiana. They will perform approximately 40 shows this year; for tourist groups, festivals, conventions, and other events.
Most of these ladies have had no formal dance training; they just love to dance! They rehearse twice a week for two or more hours at Westlake’s Managan Recreation Center. This close-knit group enjoys not only dancing but socializing together. They celebrate birthdays, holidays and take field trips.
Co-captain Sandra Tarou (second from right in back row below) joined the Diamond Dancers in 2008 because she wanted a fun physical outlet. “We show the community that no matter how old you are, you can still enjoy exercise and it can be fun,” she says. “You can be physically active, even at our age.”
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1 comment:
Looks like a truly fun-loving group!
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