MY SENIORS’ WEEK FESTIVAL 2016 STORY – MARIE PIETERSZ 

I have always been interested in community work and as an English tutor I have worked with many migrant adults and students. Then an opportunity came along when I was approached to teach dancing to seniors. I thought what a wonderful way it would be for my interests as a dancer, tutor and community worker to come together.

Before long I was feeling good about the opportunity to help seniors learn lifelong skills through dancing, one of the best exercises one could claim for everybody, and for seniors to help with memory, fitness, flexibility, freedom of movement and exercises for bone density, through gentle cardio workouts.

I have been teaching dancing to seniors now for about 10 years. My voluntary classes at the University of the Third Age have grown, sometimes with a waiting list of over a year to get in. It cannot believe the interest it has generated.

It is a huge commitment for a part-time worker like me, but when I see how happy it makes seniors, my fleeting thoughts about wanting to give it up flies right out the door. In fact community houses have opened their doors to me to cater for dancers in other suburbs. My oldest class member is 92 years of age and I am very proud she belongs to my class and she is always a model I hold up to others that age is just a number, not a restriction. 

My passion has been for not only teaching seniors dancing, but providing them with the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and prowess through demonstrations and thereby gain public confidence. A vehicle I use for this is participation in Seniors’ Week activities and other community festivals, social outings, dancing balls, theme classes such as the Footy Colours class, and also publishing their dancing on YouTube and Copperknob.uk. Their dedication in practising to make perfect blows my mind away. 

It gives me great pleasure to see seniors taking responsibility for their own health and wellbeing by being ‘sports doers’ than ‘sports watchers’.  Dancing classes also provide social outings and build friendships, which can only be good for seniors.

I think while this passion is alive in my senior students, I will also be passionate about teaching them. Seeing their faces light up with enthusiasm when they have mastered a dance routine and have surprised themselves with their movements, is a rewarding thing and gives me so much joy.  

For details of my classes, contact 0412 296 827 or visit my youtube channel to check out class dance videos. ‘Nuline with Marie’ will be performing at Federation Square on the opening day of Seniors’ Week on 2 October at 1.40 pm. Come along and check us out.

Life, be in it!

Story and photos by Marie Pietersz, Melbourne

The Victorian Seniors Festival – 2-9 October 2016

 The festival, held in October each year at various locations around the CBD, is organised by the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services to honour and encourage Victorian seniors to get out there and participate in and enjoy a wide range of more than 1,300 activities; all generally free or low-cost.

There’s a plethora of entertainment, adventure and fun activities at this year’s week-long festival. Browse musical performances, art exhibitions, cultural activities, food tours, health, nutrition and fitness workshops, and across Victoria concerts, dances, theatre shows, celebratory morning teas, tours, a host of indoor and outdoor recreation activities and much more.

Seniors, this is your week, so get out there and make the most of all the free and low-cost events the State Government has organised for you. They include:

Free public transport for the 8 days of the festival for Victorian Seniors Card holders in metropolitan and regional Victoria and 5 days of free V/Line travel between 3-6 October and on Saturday 8 October.

Free festival events-
Celebration Day at Federation Square: 2 October between 10.30am to 4pm
Festival Hub at Melbourne Town Hall: Daily from 3-7 October between 10am to 4.30pm
Come and Dance!, Melbourne Town Hall: 3 October between 12.30pm to 4pm
Festival at the Edge, Deakin Edge at Federation Square: 3-4 October between 11am – 3.30pm
Organ Concert at Melbourne Town Hall: 5 October between 1pm to 2pm

Popular musicians and bands will perform and entertain guests. So why not show off your younger side and dance to some of the great tunes of yesteryear, take part in many activities and participate in various workshops held during the festival, or why not catch a one of the classic films. You can enjoy a multitude of interactive activities; such as dancing, aerobics, strength training and tai chi.

Events can also be found all over Victoria with local councils and community groups running hundreds of other fabulous events. You can pick up a copy of the festival program from any town hall or community centre near you. You can also visit www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au  to browse through the festival event calendar.