Liturgical Dance Aerobics Scores High With Seniors

by Bobby Jo Clifford
St. Petersburg Senior Gazette

First there was the old Shaker tune, "I Danced in the Morning." Then there was Michael Flattley and "The Lord of the Dance." Oh, and we mustn't forget that country hit from a few years ago, "I Hope you Dance." It seems everyone wants to shake their groove thing these days. Well, now one area Catholic Church is incorporating dance into Sunday liturgy.

From Chicken Dinners to Chicken Dance

Folks at Our Lady of the Palms parish, St. Petersburg, Florida, have seen quite a change in their parish this last year. The parish that was made up of mostly retirees, a.k.a. "snowbirds" as we call 'em, has more then doubled in size. Now they have twice the amount of senior citizens.

What caused a parish that could barely support itself by selling Knights of Columbus Chicken dinners to turn into one of the most well known places in all of Jed Bush's state? Did they add another Bingo? No. Did they return to a Latin mass? No. The secret came from a little town close to the Appalachians.

Dancing Queen

"I've always known I was meant to do something special," said Glenn Reen, music director at Our Lady of the Palms. "I just didn't figure out what it was until after I turned the big 4-0."

Reen has revolutionized Palms by creating a liturgical dance program. Every week during mass, a dancer helps lead in the procession and helps take up the offertory.

"We always had liturgical dancers at the parish I came from," Reen explained. "When I came here to Palms, I have to admit, I was shocked they knew nothing about it. We tried some cold run-throughs, but let me just say the seniors, bless their hearts, didn't pick it up too well. That's when I decided to institute the liturgical dancing classes."

What started out as simple one-on-one training with only three people has grown into daily classes of nearly forty participants.

"I've always been a big fan of Richard Simmons," said Reen. "It's just amazing how that guy can motivate people. So I thought to myself, here's my chance! I can teach dance, which is something I've been doing since I was a boy in the mountains, and I can give these seniors a good workout."

Reen's program, "Sweatin' with the Spirit" has become extremely popular.

"We teach all the basics of liturgical dance," said Reen. "When to stretch, when to extend your hand out, and when to do a few quick running steps."

Last Dance

Reen's classes have given many seniors a renewed sense of importance and a profound new lease on life.

"I was close to entering myself in a nursing home," said Ted Braski, a retired automotive worker and recent liturgical dancer. "I was sick of hearing my wife's voice nagging me to get off the couch and fix this or go do that. Then I heard about liturgical dancing. I asked Glenn if it involved a partner. He said no. I said you've got yourself one liturgical dancer!"
Another member of Reen's dancing team, Helen Merrow, also enjoys the soothing nature of liturgical dancing. "I like it because it makes me feel like a ballerina. I feel like a ballerina. When I dance for God, I feel like a ballerina."

Indeed the movements in liturgical dancing are often graceful and low impact. It is the perfect non-stressful workout. This probably explains Reen's success with stroke victims.

"You should have seen me when I first tried dancing," said William Stanton, a recent stroke victim. "I could hardly lift one of my hands above my head. But after training with Glenn, I am much more flexible and am able to use both hands just fine. I can even lift that bowl of hot spoke over my head now."

Do You Love Me, Now That I Can Dance?

With new classes forming nearly every few weeks, there appears to be no end in sight for the massive popularity of liturgical dance aerobics. However, Reen doesn't want people to get the wrong idea.

"I want everyone to know that liturgical dancing is for Catholics and Protestants alike," said Reen. "I know some Protestants don't believe in dancing, but I also now some Catholics who think that a mass has to be a boring affair. It's time to spice things up a little bit."

And for a bunch of snow bird Catholics, that's just what Reen has done.

If you would like Reen's liturgical dancing aerobics to come to your parish, you can purchase a video cassette tape of "Sweatin' with the Spirit" 367 Lee St., St. Petersburg Florida, 45629 care of Glenn Reen.

Copyright 2009 by Nick Popadich
All rights reserved.