Let’s dance: Seniors step it up at Musical Fitness class / Senior focus

As a Frank Sinatra tune fills the air, the seniors’ shoes start tapping and it’s fitness — and fun — time in a dance room at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.

Two times a week for a half hour each morning, a group of serious and smiling seniors descend upon the center to engage in instructor Alexa Ray’s upbeat dance fitness class that is designed just for them. Classic hits from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s are mainly featured on the playlist, but disco tunes grooved their way into the Musical Fitness class a few months back.

April is tap dance month, said participant and longtime Islander Joan Voorhees, 84, after the six attendees at a recent Tuesday session gave it their all while shuffling and moving their legs and arms to the “Ol’ Blue Eyes” tunes. Two of the seniors sported tap shoes and clicked along to the beat, while the others went the tennis shoe route.

At previous classes, the seniors got in some swing dance, modern dance and Western line dancing action — and disco moves, of course.

“It’s fun and challenging and it’s very good for you to work on balance and brain-body connection. It hits a lot of things that seniors need to work on,” said Voorhees, who attended an enhanced fitness class at the center prior to COVID. She has also worked some pilates into her life and gets in some walking.

Voorhees feels satisfied when the Musical Fitness class is complete.

“I think you walk out feeling good. You’ve done a little exercise for today. You got stretched,” she said.

Another longtime Island resident Ann Janes-Waller, 81, said she attends the class for the exercise, connection with other seniors and the music. Prior to COVID, she spent time with a senior workout group, and she walks three to four times a week near her home for about four miles.

Janes-Waller praised the talented Ray and her teaching style.

“I think she moves at a very good pace. She gives us all the steps very carefully and we reiterate them enough so that we somewhat remember them. And then we speed it up. It’s all part of the process, and I think many of us wish it were like 45 minutes,” she said.

Katie Herzog, the city’s recreation program supervisor, said they launched the Musical Fitness class in January and it soon moved from one day a week to two because of its popularity. It runs from 10-10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

“We certainly have been getting requests for senior fitness, especially coming out of COVID and running things a little bit different. So thankfully we were able to bring something back and have an offering for what people are looking for,” said Herzog, who added that they also feature daily drop-in volleyball, badminton, pickleball and walking for seniors at the center.

This is the first time that Ray has offered her Musical Fitness class — in collaboration with Naomi Morgan’s NM Entertainment — at the Island center. Classes usually draw between 6-12 seniors per session.

“I design a lot of my steps to be specific for the senior body and for the aging body. I want to work on balance and I want to work on our different muscles and our joints that we need to keep our balance healthy and good for active daily living,” said Ray, who added that the class feels like a dancing community.

Musical Fitness director Ray wants the seniors to have fun, challenge themselves while achieving a solid workout and test their minds along the way.

“I always say it’s like doing a crossword in your head, but with your whole body,” Ray said.

For fees and class schedules, visit https://www.mercerisland.gov/parksrec/page/recreation-programs.