Local dance team advances to state at Bayou-River District Senior Oympic Games

The stereotype is that one loses their mobility and flexibility with age.

But the Terrebonne Parish Senior Olympics Dance Team has proved that may not be the case.

Dancing before spectators at the Houma Municipal Auditorium last Wednesday, the team strutted its stuff and received a high enough mark to advance to the state competition.

“We’ve been preparing for quite a few months,” said Sharon Boudreaux, who organized the team. “That performance was the product of a lot of hard work from a very dedicated team.”

Boudreaux started the team four years ago when she taught exercise classes at the Schriever Senior Citizens Center.

“I asked the manager if she thought any of the ladies would like to do a little dance work,” Boudreaux said. “And she said, ‘Yeah, I think so. In fact, I had a lady recently inquiring about a dance team.’ So we started it out and immediately probably more than 15 ladies took an interest in it.”

The team practices two-to-three times a week and competes in the 60 and above age division. To qualify for that class, the average age of the members of the team must be above 60.

“Our youngest is 59 and our oldest is, I think, 78,” Boudreaux said. “We have a great group.”

The team captain said they have made the state competition and placed second place there every year since they started.

In addition to the competitive performances, the team also has performances for audiences throughout the year at various places in the Tri-parish area.

At last Wednesday’s event, the team danced a Mardi Gras-themed song titled “Le Danseur de Bonne Terre.” Boudreaux said the team would add one more number at the state event.

Among those impressed with the performance at Regionals was judge Brian Head.

“The performance was very, very strong,” Head said. “There are some things to work on for state competition … but it’s not anything that they don’t have enough time to fix.”

While competition and making the next level is important to the members of the team, staying active is also a primary reason participants join the team.

Sixty-six-year-old Jerry Billiot has suffered from bulging disks in his back throughout most of his adult life.

The injury forced him to retire early from his normal job and he said he loves the team for more than its competitive edge.

“This is therapy for me,” Billiot said. “I have a physical condition and dancing brought it out. This is the only thing that could help me. Without this team, I’d be gone. It’s got me physically and mentally back together.”

Boudreaux agreed and said staying active is a vital aspect of life for people advanced in age.

“This is an enjoyable atmosphere where it gives them the opportunity to reap the exercise benefits of it,” she said. “It encourages our minds and sharpens our thinking ability as well. We just picked up five new members and I can tell you it’s so rewarding to see their beginning level and then to see the improvements they make after a few weeks of practice.”

The performance was a part of the 2010 Bayou-River District Senior Oympic Games.

It was the third year Houma hosted the event, which also features shuffleboard, charmin toss and beanbag toss competitions.

Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption, St. John, St. James and St. Charles parishes comprise the Bayou-River District. Like the dance team, winners in all the events advanced to the state competition.

But for many, the event is an opportunity for friendly competition among some familiar faces.

“It gives our seniors an opportunity to place and be medal winners or ribbon winners,” Boudreaux said.

“It truly makes these people go home feeling good about themselves when they have a bunch of medals around their necks.”

Members of the Terrebonne Parish Senior Olympics Dance Team conclude their performance last Tuesday at the Bayou-River District Senior Olympic Games. * Photo by CASEY GISCLAIR