Senior citizens boogie at Masquerade Dance

By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press

Dancing to classic tunes, more than a dozen senior citizens enjoyed an afternoon to themselves at the Senior Activity Center’s Masquerade Dance held Saturday at the Copperas Cove Civic Center. 
The guests donned their fanciest masks and attire and forgot about their troubles, if only for an afternoon, as they danced to songs like “The Twist” by Chubby Checker and others from past decades. Music was provided by Scotty Ray & Blanca’s Golden Oldies Show & Friends. 
“We wanted to do something fun,” said Jeri Wood, Community Outreach Specialist for the City of Copperas Cove said about the masquerade themed dance. “The seniors just like to get out and have a good time. It’s really important, and I’m trying to bring awareness to the rest of the community that the Senior Center exists, and we’re not all just sitting in rockers going, ‘I can’t do anything.’ Even ones in wheelchairs will get out there and dance, so it’s a lot of fun.”
This was the first dance of 2022 for the Senior Activity Center. Previous dances last year included a hoedown, a prom and a sock-hop. The next dance will be scheduled for June and will have an 80s theme, according to Jeri Wood, Community Outreach Specialist. 
Future plans will also possibly include a murder mystery dinner theater event, Wood said.
“There’s a lot of things that these guys want to try, new things that they’ve haven’t done before,” Wood said. “That’s my job is to coordinate those and try and find things that enrich their lives and make them smile, because there’s no reason, I don’t care if you’re in your 80s, to sit home and do nothing unless you really just physically can’t. It’s still good to have a social life and be out and about doing things.”
Five Hills Ambassador Dawn Hale and Little Miss Five Hills Braelyn Liles of the Five Hills Scholarship Program royalty also attended the dance, spending most of their time on the dance floor with the senior citizens. 
For John Geydos, the dance was a way to hang out with friends and socialize. Dressed in a purple sequin jacket, Geydos brought the festive in festivities. 
“I love to dance. I love the gorgeous ladies,” Geydos said about the dance. “It’s wonderful. With this COVID going on, you have to be able to get the seniors out of the house. A lot of them are afraid to go out. We want to show them that you can go out and have fun and you can enjoy life. You don’t have to just sit in your house.”
Marie Hull was excited to attend Saturday’s Masquerade dance after missing some of the dances last year. 
“I’m 80 years old, and I just need to let my wings fly!” Hull laughed. 
Hull added that she wanted more senior citizens to come out to these events in the future. 
“It lets the seniors know that just because we’re old, we can still get out and act like we’re young,” Hull said. 
The senior center’s event sponsors included Westview Manor and Rehabilitation Center, Elara Caring, Raising Cane’s and Hill Country Rehab and Nursing Center. 
The senior center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
The Senior Activity Center is located at 1012 North Drive Ste. 5. For those wanting more information or to share an idea for a future event, contact Jeri Wood at (254) 547-6049 or via email at  jwood@copperascovetx.gov.