Let's Move
by Jill Duff-Hoppes
Dora Furst readily admits she can’t get motivated to exercise on her own at home. Case in point: the 84-year-old rarely used her old exercise bike for its intended purpose.
“I wound up hanging my ironing on the handles because riding it was boring,” laughs Dora, a Brooklyn native who lives in Altamonte Springs.
Fortunately, Dora has now found a more enjoyable way to stay active. She regularly attends Gentle BeMoved classes presented by Orlando Ballet at The Roth Family JCC.
Gentle BeMoved is a dance fitness program tailored to adults with limited physical mobility – due to age, health, or injury – and is designed to improve strength, balance, and flexibility. Classes begin with a seated warm-up and progress to upright dancing, although participants can remain seated if needed.
“It’s important that we move, not just sit and play cards,” says Dora, a JCC member. “You know what they say, ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it.’”
Gentle BeMoved is one of four programs the J offers through a relatively new partnership with Orlando Ballet. The collaboration, which brings the joy of dance to adults and children, began in the fall of 2021.
“All four programs are coming back this fall because they all worked,” says Fara Gold, The Roth Family JCC’s chief program officer. “Orlando Ballet is a great partner, and we love the programs they are offering.”
The dance programs are free to the public (JCC members and guests, alike) thanks to funding from The Pargh Foundation, a charitable trust that enhances Jewish life in Central and South Florida and supports noteworthy Jewish organizations elsewhere in the United States.
Something for Everyone
In addition to Gentle BeMoved, the other three programs are:
* BeMoved, a dance fitness program designed to give participants with more mobility (including active seniors) a safe, body-friendly movement experience. Appropriate for first-time dancers to experienced pros, the classes build core strength and balance while improving flexibility and coordination. BeMoved and Gentle BeMoved were both founded by Sherry Zunker, an internationally renowned dancer, director, and choreographer who is based in Chicago.
* FIRST STEPS – Early Learning Through the Arts introduces preschool children to creative arts such as dance, drama, puppetry, and music. One of the highlights is a classroom visit by Orlando Ballet School dancers in costume who give an interactive performance on the art of dance.
* S.T.E.P.S. (Scholarship Training for the Enrichment of Primary Students) teaches second-through fifth-graders about dance as an art form. S.T.E.P.S. is modeled after a similar program developed by New York’s Dance Theatre of Harlem. Students learn about classical ballet and other dance styles, and the course culminates in a showcase performance for family and friends.
When the J’s partnership with Orlando Ballet began, word quickly spread throughout the community about the dance programs, especially the ones for kids, Fara says.
“We had so many people in this building I’ve never seen before,” says Fara. “People were coming from all over. It was really nice.”
And for older seniors, Gentle BeMoved has been a welcome addition to the J’s roster of classes – especially after the worry and isolation many folks in the class’s demographic experienced during the height of the pandemic.
“Being able to provide this caliber of a program has really lifted their spirits,” says Fara. “They’re super happy.”
Learning from the Best
Krista Ledden, a former Orlando Ballet board member, led the initial sessions of BeMoved and Gentle BeMoved at the J. A local philanthropist, Krista is a former professional dancer with Twyla Tharp Dance and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
“I was delighted to be invited to come and teach at The Roth Family JCC,” says Krista. “Dance is for everyone, and everyone should be able to enjoy it. We try to foster a very warm environment with these classes.”
Marlena Abaza, who took over as the BeMoved and Gentle BeMoved instructor at the J in January, says the variety of workout music is one of the things participants enjoy the most. For seniors in Gentle BeMoved, the most popular genres include Roaring ‘20s tunes, ‘40s-era swing music, and Motown sounds from the ‘60s.
“The music really takes them back to a lot of happy memories, sort of revisiting their lives,” Marlena says. “It lifts them up.”
Krista seconds that. “The music is very useful for getting people inspired to move, especially for those who hate to exercise... and don’t we all?” she quips.
For Dora, the camaraderie she shares with the other participants is one of the biggest draws of the Gentle BeMoved classes. Plus, the experience is just plain fun.
“To stay home and do exercises – I’m not going to do it,” says Dora, “but this is perfect. We look forward to it. And no one has dropped out because they were bored.”