Dancing Duo Ken and Judy Scott

Learning modern dance has kept couple moving in retirement.

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Ken and Judy Scott of Webster first learned of Garth Fagan Dance in Rochester when taking their young children to dance lessons.

Eventually, they decided to join in and take lessons.

Twenty-four years later the couple still take modern dance lessons at Garth Fagan under the tutelage of owner Natalie Rogers-Cropper, who is also the executive director and president of the school.

Ken Scott said that the experience has helped them stay moving, despite being in their late 60s. With the exception of recovery from a bone spur procedure for Ken, they’ve been dancing through their retirement.

Scott said that when he has encouraged some adult friends to join him, they express apprehension about joining a dance school. Suppose they couldn’t keep up? Or what if they couldn’t remember the right moves?

“This is one of the few endeavors in your life where you can participate and you’re never judged by the instructor or the other participants,” Scott said.

He also likes the exercise aspects of the class. After stretching for about 20 minutes, the rest of the 45-minute class is more active movement.

“It’s a way to keep moving and keep things relatively flexible,” he said. “I don’t want to be someone who grows older and dodders around because they can’t move so well anymore.”

He has also developed lifelong friendships with people he has known through Garth Fagan Dance.

“I’m 62 and still dancing; that speaks volumes,” said Rogers-Cropper.

She attributes that in part to the Garth Fagan technique which she said is designed to protect the dancer and build strength and flexibility. Some of her students are in their 70s and dislike going to a gym for fitness. Although not a style of dance that would lend toward dancing at a wedding or other event, modern dance is often seen on stage and Rogers-Cropper said that some of her students perform on stage.

At Rochester Dance Lessons in Rochester, owner Jay Ruest  said that her school attracts some retirees because they’re trying to find productive ways to spend their newfound time and they have more financial resources now that the children have grown and flown.

“They’re mostly couples, although I have a few single women,” Ruest said.

The school teaches ballroom dancing with a partner and includes dance styles such as salsa, tango, bolero, cha cha, hustle, Lindy hop, mambo, rumba, swing, foxtrot, and waltz. The school hosts events monthly and goes out on the town to practice.

“When people start to learn, everyone progresses,” Ruest said. “They all get better, though some not as quickly as they’d like to. It’s fun to see that progress. It’s rewarding to see people learn a new step and get to the end. It’s like a game and you can see people get excited to get to that next step, that next level.”

Learning together creates tight bonds among students. Sometimes, Ruest and students take a cruise together and share experiences beyond dancing.

“A lot of students will come up and say, ‘Do you realize it’s been eight years?’” Ruest said.