What started as a fun fitness class has morphed into one of the most popular weekly resident activities at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW). A group of 20 residents, now known as The Outlook Dancing Outlaws, meets twice a week to learn popular line dances and classic wedding favorites. Led by OAW Director of Resident Services Katie Snezhkova, with help from Community Life Coordinator Courtney Lammons, the group gathers on Monday afternoons for the community-wide class and again on Wednesday mornings to fine tune the moves with a step-by-step breakdown.
“I danced for most of my early years and then through high school. I have always loved dancing but never taught it. This is a new experience for me, leading a group and being the teacher,” said Katie.
The Outlaws made their debut performance at OAW’s Grand Launch event, wearing matching blue bandanas and showing off popular country line dances like the Two Step, Cotton Eye Joe, Boot Scootin’ Boogie and Elvira. The group split into two shifts, with one group performing from 1 to 2 p.m., and the other from 2 to 3 p.m. A few residents were so enthusiastic they danced for the full two hours!
“When we all got to dance to some really great music, we decided we wanted to really learn how to dance,” shared OAW resident and Outlaw dancer Cathy Davis. “So, Katie and Courtney were kind enough to start our community dance party and we are having a blast. We love it!”
The Outlaws recently added a new routine called the Cowboy Hustle and are working on perfecting the classic Footloose dance. Katie shared, “I love watching the residents enjoying themselves and having a great time. It makes me feel good knowing I’m helping them stay healthy and have fun doing it.” A future performance may be on the horizon, but for now the group is just having fun while staying fit in the process.
By Amee McGough
