Barton Community College dance instructor Danika Bielek’s new class may help mature adults to stay mobile with innovative movement. The exercises are designed for people of all ages and levels of experience who wish to improve balance and overall mind-to-body connection.
Each class will engage participants’ bodies and creative minds with an enjoyable blend of social and line dances, jazz dance and modern dance, Bielek said. Class will also include a new type of ballet barre exercise specifically developed to aid in balance and fall prevention.
Bielek was hired as Barton’s Performing Arts dance instructor/coordinator in January and soon began work on a class designed for senior citizens. The class had a trial run in September when it was offered to members of Barton’s Silver Cougar Club. A new class starts Monday and is open to everyone.
Participants will be guided by Bielek, who has worked in the field of dance for more than two decades and received training and worked in geriatrics in Colorado Springs, Colo. There she learned to develop a passion for using dance as a vehicle for exercise and therapy for aging adults. She is the founder of Rhythm Connection for PD (Parkinson’s disease), a movement class for people living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
Dance can also help people mentally and emotionally, Bielke said.
“The way we learn dances touches on places in the brain that require a very specific kind of memorization,” she said. “The more you practice movements of these sorts, the more your brain is sending signals to different muscles and body parts. That mind-body connection through your neural pathways is much like when you’re a hiker.” The first time on a path, it may be steep and filled with rocks or obstacles, she said. “The more the path is traveled, the more clear it becomes.”
Bielek emphasizes the principle that new goals can be sought at any stage of life.
“There is always something more to look forward to, no matter what our age,” she said. “As adults, we focus on so many other things — family, careers, good things — but it’s always wonderful to remember that we matter, making ourselves stronger and healthier matters, and having fun matters.”
Mary Kottman and Barbara Beahm are two students in the first class who said they plan to continue.
“The class has been more than I expected — better than I expected,” Kottman said. “It has helped me feel stronger and have better balance already after the first session. I’m very happy with it.”
“It’s so much fun,” Beahm said.
“My general well-being has been affected,” Beahm said. “I’m so much more aware of my movement and posture. My legs and ankle strength have increased through ballet.”
She said she’s also enjoyed the ethnic dances with Salsa, African and jazz music. “There’s a great variety of movement and dance.”
Each class will include the history of the different dance styles taught, as well as social time with a snack.
The class will run from 1:30–2:40 p.m. Oct. 22 through Dec. 5 on Monday and Wednesday afternoons in the dance studio on campus. This class requires a minimum of six and a maximum of 12.
Because of its nature, pre-registration is required by calling the Foundation office, 620-792-9306. The cost for Silver Cougar Club members will be $38; cost for non-members will be $112.
For further information about the nature of the class and to make sure it’s a good fit, contact Bielek at 620-792-9253.
Silver Cougar Club
The Silver Cougar Club is an organization for individuals 55 years of age or older, or a spouse of a Silver Cougar Club member who is 55 years of age or older.
The club offers a variety of events and services while promoting friendships among its members. Membership is diversified and includes men and women, singles and couples, and members from a variety of communities. Cost is $15 per year for individuals or $25 for couples. For more information contact Coleen Cape, 620-786-1136, or email capec@bartonccc.edu.
Additional reporting by Brandon Steinert and Coleen Cape, Barton Community College.
