Eileen Sagman still loves hitting the dancefloor at 91.
Bonsor 55+ Society holds dances every Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evening at its centre in Burnaby, with the dances including light refreshments and music performed by live bands.
“It’s 50s, 60s, 70s music, rock ‘n’ roll, tangos and cha-chas. There are polka, waltzes. Everything,” said Sagman, who began attending the dances about 15 years ago while still living in Vancouver. “I just do it for fun.”
Sagman started attending the dances about 15 years ago, while still living in Vancouver. The dances attract folks aged 55 and up from around the region, including New Westminster, the North Shore, White Rock and Vancouver.
“Because we are so friendly and we are having so much fun,” Sagman said, when asked why people travel to Burnaby for the dances. “There is such a variety of music and a variety of different kinds of dances.”
The dance has a casual dress code, but people are discouraged from wearing jeans or shorts.
No partner? Two left feet? No problem.
“People that don’t have partners, the girls get up and dance together. We just jump around and have a good time. We have a really good time,” Sagman says. “Everybody is really friendly. We like to encourage everybody to come and just enjoy themselves. We welcome newcomers.”
Bonsor 55+ is a senior’s centre run by the City of Burnaby’s parks and recreation department. Adjacent to Bonsor recreation complex, the standalone senior’s centre offers programs to keep people 55 and older active, healthy and engaged in the community.
“It keeps us active and young. You are meeting friends,” Sagman said. “You are not sitting at home looking at four walls. We get out, we see all these people. That’s part of the enjoyment of getting the people to come – it’s the enjoyment of belonging to something like that. I know of people who are so depressed sitting at home. It’s just wonderful to see them come out and have a good time.”
Bonsor 55+ dances are held on Tuesday afternoons from noon till 3 p.m. and on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. (The Tuesday afternoon dances won’t be offered in July and August, but will resume in September.)
Admission is $5 for members of Bonsor 55 and $7 for non-members, which includes tea, coffee and light refreshments and a chance to dance to music performed by live bands.
“Everybody just comes and enjoys themselves,” Sagman said. “It is a very friendly place. Everybody very nice.”
Everyone 55 and up is welcome to drop in to the dances, which take place at the centre located at 6533 Nelson Ave., Burnaby.
