West Hartford senior finds the power of dance potent – at any age.

Clemens Lengenfelder and Mary Dougherty dance at The McAuley in West Hartford. Photo credit: Anabela Ferreira

By Christine Looby

Mary Dougherty, radiant in red, took the floor at The McAuley Auditorium in February, and danced as if she’d been doing it her entire life.

The residents gathered to watch her perform marveled at her mastery of movement. In fact, dancing is something Mary took up later in life, and now she’s encouraging older adults to keep up with or find a new passion that keeps them fit, social, and having fun as they age.

“I always wanted to dance,” Mary recalled, “and I had a few starts at it.” She was 5 or 6 years old when her mother registered her for a tap dance class. The time commitment was tough, however, as her mother worked. After tap, the next progression in the dance program available to Mary was ballet. “My Mom just wasn’t interested in ballet,” Mary said. “And it wasn’t convenient for us.”  

In junior high school, Mary enjoyed ballroom dancing with instructors in her local area. “But then we got into the War,” she said, “and there really were no men around.” Without a partner, Mary didn’t see much future in ballroom dancing.  

When she grew up and got married, her husband didn’t dance. She was the mother of five children and an elementary school teacher. Her dance card would be deferred for just a few decades.

Mary was in her 60s when a friend suggested that they try dancing lessons as a new adventure. “I was going to Fred Astaire, and the instructors encouraged me to go to competition. I found that I liked competing. I loved being part of something like that,” and, as her friend had suggested, the camaraderie among her new dance community was an added joy.

Clemens Lengenfelder and Mary Dougherty dance at The McAuley in West Hartford. Photo credit: Anabela Ferreira

“Most of all,” Mary added, “I love being in the music, which is what you feel like when you’re dancing. It feels good throughout your whole body. Some days, I say I’d rather dance than walk. It’s a happy thing!” 

Mary describes dance as both “great fitness training” and “cathartic.” As for performing for her fellow residents at The McAuley in West Hartford, she said: “That was great fun!” Her partner was Fred Astaire Dance Studio owner and her instructor Clemens Lengenfelder, who studied dressmaking/tailoring in his European school and actually designed and created Mary’s crimson dress.

Mary, now 96, has lived at The McAuley for two years. She moved in during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which she said made it a little slower for her to make friends. Now, though, she readily says: “I enjoy life, and I’m enjoying my life at The McAuley. The people here are friendly, the staff have great attitudes, and I love that I’ve been able to keep up the dancing!”

Clemens Lengenfelder and Mary Dougherty dance at The McAuley in West Hartford. Photo credit: Anabela Ferreira

Medical experts back up Mary’s theory that keeping up the dancing is well advised. According to a 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “Participation in leisure activities is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.” In a study of 488 people between 75 and 85 years of age who engaged in leisure activities including dance, walking, climbing stairs, bicycling, and swimming, those who danced regularly showed the greatest protection against dementia.  

In addition to its cognitive benefits, dance is a heart-healthy endeavor, bringing the heart rate up and helping lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Dance is also an economically-accessible cardiovascular exercise, not requiring expensive equipment or gym memberships.  

In 2017, Psychology Today posited that the endorphins released in dancing counteract depression and enhance mood in older adults. For more than a decade, the non-profit organization Music & Memory has asserted that music has the power to reduce anxiety and agitation in seniors. On its webpage, Canada’s National Ballet School shares that “Research on aging and brain health finds that dance offers a unique combination of physical, mental, and social benefits for older adults. Dance may be socially and emotionally beneficial by reducing isolation, creating a sense of community, and providing space for creativity and artistic expression.”  

In a September 2022 blog post, MD Senior Living suggests that dancing improves older adults’ sense of balance and coordination. Regular activity combats mobility decline, which can in turn make the tasks of daily living just a bit easier further into the aging journey.  

Mary says that if a friend told her that they’d always had the desire to take up dancing but was intimidated or thought it might be too late to start, she’d quickly encourage that person. “I’d tell them ‘If you’re really interested, take a class!’ Your body feels good when it’s active!”

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