Thelma Albertson feels like she and her group of dancers are starting from scratch after losing their favorite Arlington dance spot.
The group waited for more than two years to return to Arlington鈥檚 Eunice Activity Center. The city building was known for robust programming for older adults, spacious event center and its hardwood floor. Like other venues, it closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The next year, the deadly February 2021 winter freeze damaged the building.
Albertson and her group waited as one delay after another moved their return date. They found other dance halls, though none offered the same size or rates.
鈥淓very year, it was, 鈥極K, it鈥檚 going to be completed the end of spring. OK, the end of summer, the first of fall, the end of the year,鈥欌�� Albertson said. 鈥淓very year, we got that.鈥�
Finally, the group learned in March they would never return in the activity center. Repairs and updates required to put the building in compliance with city code would have totaled around $2 million鈥攎ore than half of the building鈥檚 value.
City officials will incorporate the Eunice Activity Center property into Arlington鈥檚 masterplan for . Parks and recreation staff have hosted multiple public input sessions for the space and are
Meanwhile, Albertson and her crew of people are on the hunt for a building that measures up to their now-defunct spot.
鈥淚t was quite a dance hall. Everybody loved it. Everybody loved going to Eunice Street,鈥� Albertson said. 鈥淲e were pretty, well, disheartened to learn that it was no more.鈥�
An 鈥榚xtended family鈥�
Dancers describe their group as 鈥渇amily,鈥� regardless of their location.
Albertson holds a binder full of laminated memories鈥攃ountry nights, centennial birthday parties, themed evenings. She started dancing with the group in 2011, then took over the dances in 2018 when the host became ill.
The events, now stationed at St. Jude Event Center along South Cooper Street, have recently brought in about 74 or so dancers each Thursday night. Comparatively, dances at the Eunice Center would bring in at least 100 dancers per night, twice a week.
The space in St. Jude May 11 felt like part celebration, part family reunion as revelers caught up with old friends between dances and mingled with new ones.
鈥淓veryone here is just my extended family, and I love being with everyone,鈥� Pene Enochs said. 鈥淲e always have such a great time. Bands are always good here, and everyone is friendly.鈥�
The dances have been Enochs' connection to friends. Enochs said she doesn鈥檛 get out much, but getting out to dances in Arlington has been one of the highlights of her life.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important for older people to get out of that comfort zone and move around. When you don鈥檛, I think that鈥檚 when it鈥檚 time to go bye-bye,鈥� she said.
Experts say exercise and opportunities to socialize are paramount for older adults. Physical activity in adults 65 and up can reduce the risk of falling, improve brain health and help secure more years of independent living, according to the Researchers have linked loneliness to a greater risk of .
Albertson said she鈥檚 watched the effects of isolation affect her dancers during the COVID pandemic.
鈥淧eople were holed up in their homes not able to get out,鈥� Albertson said. 鈥淪ome of them just couldn鈥檛 get up and walk anymore.鈥�
And while the St. Jude Event Center is a lovely venue, she said, the spaces in the floor pose a risk for dancers, especially people who wear heels.
In addition to looking for future venues, Albertson is looking for ways to financially support the dances. She formed a nonprofit to support the dances. She鈥檚 happy with the amount of people who make it out to Thursday dances, but feels like there鈥檚 room to grow.
鈥淚 need more financial wise, but it鈥檚 a good number just to begin with,鈥� Albertson said. 鈥淚 feel like we鈥檙e just beginning again.鈥�
Programs for older adults in Arlington have moved from the Eunice to the Dottie Lynn Recreation Center and the Bob Duncan Center. The long-awaited Activ, or Active Adult Center, is slated to open in late 2024 and include multipurpose rooms, a full-court gymnasium and special events space.
Albertson said she鈥檒l wait and see the offerings at the Activ. However, senior centers she鈥檚 consulted have rates that are out of reach.
鈥淓very senior center that I鈥檝e talked to about my dances and our seniors, they want $500 for rental, if they rent 鈥� I don鈥檛 know what they鈥檙e going to do. I鈥檓 assuming it won鈥檛 work out. But it might,鈥� Albertson said.
For now, the wait continues, but so does the dance party.
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