Waltz and foxtrot, rumba and salsa, square dance and padespan … All these dances were subdued by the Pskov dancers of elegant age from the “Grace” club. “Dancing is our life!” – exclaims one of the band members. She also claims: it is dancing that makes her more cheerful and healthier. And they also bring a lot of positive emotions, make you forget about your age and feel like a star of any dance floor.
As part of the “Silver Age – Sports Pension” project, the correspondent of “MK In Pskov” visited the club and was convinced of the miraculous power of dance.
For class, as for a holiday
The sun. Evening. August. People of elegant age gather on the Militia Embankment, near the Pskova River. About 15 people – women and men. Some ladies in flying dresses, with exquisite hairstyles. Cavaliers are not far behind. The mood is high, they are talking, laughing, looking around, expecting latecomers.
Nearby is a column. The waltz sounds. We come closer, get acquainted.
The charming woman at the “DJ’s console” is Lyudmila Vasilievna Malinovskaya, the head of the Pskov dance club “Grace” with 20 years of experience and at the same time a specialist in physiotherapy exercises. She explains that this season’s first outdoor workout is about to begin.
“Club” Gracia “has been operating since 1977. During this time, hundreds of people from Pskov studied with us. Usually we train in the PrEP, we meet in the evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are also weekend groups. Due to coronavirus restrictions, however, they did not meet for almost three months. We resumed training only at the end of June. In general, people are eager to dance, ”says a new friend.
By the way, there is a great variety of dances in the repertoire of “Grace”.
“Firstly, the European program is a waltz, a slow and fast foxtrot. Secondly, Latin American dances. We dance salsa, cha-cha-cha, rumba. Thirdly, order dances are circular dances with a change of partner: square dance, padespan, figured and Spanish and many others, ”Lyudmila Malinovskaya lists.
Dancing enthusiasts in the center of Pskov
The average age of the Gracia club members is 45-60 years. But in fact, for those who want to learn to dance, there are no age restrictions, says the head of the group.
“All ages are submissive to dancing. Our oldest dancer is 87 years old. He’s not dancing yet, as he is considered a risk group, – emphasizes the interlocutor. “And our youngest participant is a university student.”
Do not be shy!
The lesson, as it should be, begins with a dance warm-up. Her team members know by heart. Turns, slaps, arm, shoulder and leg movements. In a word, muscles and joints are stretched, coordination is trained, the mood rises. At the end there is applause.
“Waltz! We haven’t danced a waltz for a long time! ” – exclaims Lyudmila Malinovskaya, and then the gentlemen invite the ladies.
After him, Russian padespan, then Spanish waltz, followed by foxtrot and beat-rock. The elements of each dance are disassembled before the start, the figures and rearrangements are pronounced and counted.
For those who do not succeed, Lyudmila Malinovskaya helps. He patiently explains again, and sometimes he picks up the confused dancer and leads him, whirling to the rhythm of the music.
People gather around imperceptibly, surprised by an unexpected concert in the middle of the park. They sit down on benches in the shade of willows and watch with delight. They stop and shoot on video, and schoolchildren and toddlers even try to imitate the silver age dancers.
However, such attention of experienced dancers does not bother at all.
“We regularly dance in cafes, so to speak, in conditions close to“ fighting ”. Why? Because people are often afraid to go out on the dance floor. My task is that people, when they hear the music, do not hesitate, but go to dance, rejoice themselves and delight the audience, receiving their applause. This is healthy and cultural leisure, ”the head of the club explains during the break between musical compositions.
The workout lasts about an hour. But sometimes, according to Lyudmila Malinovskaya, it can take even more. It all depends on how much the participants are ready to dance. And they, by the way, are tireless and sincerely in love with their hobby.
Optimal load
Lyudmila Vasilievna, who has worked in a medical institution for about 30 years, explains such love of the members of her club by the fact that dancing is the optimal form of physical activity for people of considerable age. Moving to the music, retirees strengthen their health and, as a result, improve their well-being.
“Dancing is a medium intensity load. During classes, the cardiovascular, respiratory system is strengthened, ventilation of the lungs is enhanced, which is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the muscular system is strengthened, since all the muscles work in the dance, and not just the legs, as some think. Posture improves “, – emphasizes the benefits of this type of physical activity for people of any age Lyudmila Malinovskaya.
But that’s not all the pluses!
“Dancing a person gets a lot of positive emotions. Smiles and laughter help to relax and relieve stress. And, of course, communication. After all, health is well-being in the physical, mental and social planes, ”the interlocutor concludes.
Participants of the “Grace” celebrate birthdays together, spend New Year’s evenings, celebrate February 23, March 8 and even the Day of Soviet Pioneers with a “friendly dancing family”. The graduates of the dance club also come to such holidays. Some of them even devote poems to their favorite band.
Dancing as a lifestyle
“It’s great here, I can’t imagine my life now without this group, honestly,” 56-year-old Elena Tretyakova confesses her love for the dance club.
Together with her husband, they attended their first lesson two years ago.
“It all started after we went abroad. We sat there in a cafe, watched the British dance, probably, this is everything they teach in school, – suggests the Pskov woman. – And we that … hung on each other, and that’s it. So we decided to do dancing so that it would not be offensive for Russia, so that we could dance while traveling in other countries. They came and immediately joined the team. Now we are campaigning for everyone, we have our own company, plus you are busy with something, and it’s good for your health ”.
Another member of the dance club, Tatyana Zueva, also speaks about the health benefits. According to the pensioner, she danced in her youth. But the love for rhythms did not recede even in adulthood.
“I have been studying in this team quite recently. Less than a year. Here I realized that there are many interesting good dances that we had not danced before. Dancing greatly affects your well-being. We haven’t danced for three months now, and immediately, it seems, I got plumper, and something ached. Sports and dancing are almost on the same level, ”the interlocutor expresses her opinion.
Both Elena and Tatiana, without saying a word, assert: during the restrictive measures they missed their studies and the team very much. Therefore, we are glad that we have now met and started dancing.
They are also supported by the head of the “Grace” club, Lyudmila Malinovskaya.
“Physical activity, attention to a partner, benevolence, communication are also medicine for every person. Therefore, we are waiting for everyone who wishes to join, ”she concludes.
Those wishing to join the “dancing family” can contact pl. Lenin, 1, 3rd floor, office. 30, or call +7 (911) 356-29-97.