A GROUP of Sunraysia residents is proving that age should be no barrier when it comes to fun.
The Sisterhood of Tappers, varying in age from 50 to 90 years old, gather once a week and say that tap “keeps them young”.
Member Shirley Cameron said many participants have been tap-dancing all their lives, while some are complete novices.
“I started doing tap and ballet when I was five years old,” she said.
“In saying that, we have people who have never danced before and are just learning now and that’s completely fine too … we’re patient and we’re happy to teach.
“Really we just want to see people having fun and exercising.”
Ms Cameron said the group’s oldest member, a 90-year-old man who is also deaf, used the vibrations through the floor to help him recognise the rhythm.
“He also used his iPad to video-record the dance, and he watched it back and learnt the routine that way before he joined in,” she said.
“As we get older, of course we adjust things to suit us — as we get slower and some things become too difficult, we change them.
“We work around that.”
The Sisterhood of Tappers use their talents to bring smiles to the faces of elderly residents in many aged-care facilities across Sunraysia.
“We pull out all the stops (for the aged-care facilities) — we do all the fancy costumes, make-up and dances, then we stay and chat with people,” she said.
“We have the really glitzy stuff, but also the more simplistic dances where it’s just us performing and having fun.
“It’s great exercise — it can be quite a workout and I definitely use it as a way to keep fit.
“We really welcome everyone who is interested, regardless of ability.”
People interested in joining should call June Louchard on 0429 676 476.
