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<\/a>\u201cMy method is to slowly go over each step and then give counts, or beats, for each section,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Now 76 years old, Hart had no idea that the troupe would be such a hit in the community. Several of her students have been with her since she started teaching. Most are seniors between the ages of 60 and 90.<\/p>\n
Barbara Jacobs, who has danced in Hart\u2019s class for six years, said that every week she feels rejuvenated after the class.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have learned that I can still dance, appropriate to my age, but the joy I feel is the same throughout the many years I have lived,\u201d Jacobs said.<\/p>\n
Donna Geiger has been a student of Hart\u2019s for seven years. \u201cIn this class, I have been given a great outlet for exercise as well as her own love of dancing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are like a family,\u201d Hart said. \u201cWe celebrate together, cry together, laugh together. The friendship and caring for each other is beautiful to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the classes are mostly comprised of women, men are welcome, too. Hart\u2019s own husband joins in on the fun after he sets up the equipment.<\/p>\n
Griffith\u2019s class of Soul Line Dance started up just last year, but he already has a faithful following.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re an urban soul adult line dance group. The music genres we dance to are blues, gospel, jazz, Latin, R&B and zydeco,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n
Recreation supervisor Kathy Tinsley even joins in on the fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was so impressed by this class that I signed up for it and take my lunch break during the class,\u201d Tinsley said.<\/p>\n
The first time Griffith ever tried line dancing was in 2003 by invitation of a friend who asked him to come so that there would be men in the class.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn’t think I would like it, due to all the music was country and western. During that first class I felt so welcomed and had a blast dancing and meeting nice people. In 2010, I transitioned into the urban soul line dance side of dance,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n
According to Griffith, line dance is exercise for both the body and the mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a workout using body movements and exercising all of your limbs. It stimulates the brain to think while having fun listening and following instructions. Students learn many rhythms of music along with counting out steps and using the steps in multiple dances. It’s wonderful for memory,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
An easy dance can be learned in two minutes, a more advanced dance in 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the difficulty of the rhythm and steps.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m learning my steps. So if I can do it, you can, too,\u201d Tinsley said.<\/p>\n
In both Griffith\u2019s and Hart\u2019s class, line dancing is open to all, including those with limited body movement. Dances can be modified to accommodate people\u2019s special needs.<\/p>\n
Griffith\u2019s class also has a performance group called Verlosity. The dancers perform at line dance events all around San Diego County as well as the Los Angeles Cali Jam and Las Vegas Line Dance Jam.<\/p>\n
Hart is a member of San Diego \u2018N\u2019 Line Dancers, teaching at their beginning and intermediate workshops.<\/p>\n
As for the future of line dancing, Griffith said, \u201cI see line dancing being around forever.\u201d<\/p>\n