A lifelong exerciser finds a new challenge at 69 with tap dancing
By Jen Murphy Sept. 29, 2019 8:00 am ET Christine DiBona figured tap dancing would be a breeze, even at 69, after a lifetime of exercise. Instead she calls it the toughest workout she’s ever tried.
She says playing the piano has helped improve her tap rhythm and both activities help sharpen her memory. In 2014, Ms. DiBona suffered an episode of shingles and had to stop dancing for six months. Exercise, particularly dance, she says, has been crucial in helping with lingering nerve pain. “The routines work balance and agility, but they also make you think,” she says. “We all mess up a lot, but we don’t take it too seriously. We laugh a lot in class.
The women start with three to four short dance combinations that help with memorization. They move across the floor in groups of two or more doing different tap steps that will appear in longer routines. Ms. Loring choreographs longer routines that the group learns and builds on over a month. She records the routine so the women can practice at home.
The Diet Breakfast alternates between nonfat Greek yogurt, avocado toast and a veggie egg white omelet. Lunch is typically tuna fish with olives. Ms. DiBona says that when the couple was still working they never had dinner together. The Playlist “Everyone thinks we dance to show tunes, but Meagan puts on Motown, rock, Sinatra,” she says.
Studies have shown that general exercise can improve cognitive function, but some research also suggests that dance in particular can improve brain health.
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