While we were setting up our gear, we were approached by a resident that asked me - "do you remember me?" She was the wife of the founding bandleader of the well known Denver band Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra. When I said "of course I do!," her face lit up with joy and a sort of relief that she was remembered. And then during the first song my partner and I danced to was this exchange - "Oh boy, remember those days?" "I do!" - between two residents while we swung out to Glenn Miller's "In the Mood."

There is a benefit to finding yourself having remained in someone's memory and to also experience a powerful moment of nostalgia through dance, music and dance performance. Suddenly you're transported back to the times you listened to your husband's band practicing, social dancing at your high school or listening to a familiar record. Reliving these moments are valuable. Not only are you connecting with the performance happening in front of you, you also get to experience your connection with it through your lived experiences and that is powerful.

I'm appreciative of these opportunities to bring joy to people through The Affix Group, an organization providing entertainment and education for senior living communities. As their slogan says, “we deliver happy.” If you’d like to bring us to yours or a loved one’s community, you can call - 720-789-1296.

You dance love, and you dance joy, and you dance dreams.

GENE KELLY