Las Perlitas de Huntington Park allows older adults to socialize and exercise through the art of dancing

Every Wednesday in the late afternoon, while families and children enjoy the playground at Robert Keller Park in Huntington Park, a group of seniors dance to the rhythm of different styles of Mexican music. Some women even wear their long circle skirts. 

One of the participants is Gloria Solano, a 72-year-old resident from Huntington Park. She joined the ballet folklorico Las Perlitas de Huntington Park three years ago. She said that because of the pandemic she would get bored and instead opted to go out to the park and read. 

“I would see the group dancing and one of them asked me if I wanted to join,” said Solano. 

She accepted without hesitation because she is a dance and music lover. In her younger years she wanted to dance more but her responsibilities didn’t permit her. 

Another dancer is Lupe Lopez, a resident from Maywood, who joined the group two years ago.

Lopez, 62, said she heard about a dancing group for seniors and accompanied her friend without imagining that she would also stay.  

“Our teacher is so good that I learn the steps in one or two hours,” said Lopez. 

Solano agreed, saying the instructor, Aaron Cruz, has a lot of patience, repeats the steps as many times as necessary, and doesn’t get upset. 

It’s never too late to learn

Las Perlitas de Huntington Park is a dance group for seniors that provides entertainment and socialization to the senior community free of charge. The dance group is part of El Centrito de Apoyo de Huntington Park, a social and educational Spanish-language resource hub that allows people to develop wellness skills and reconnect with their strengths and abilities.

Cruz said he has been teaching dance for many years, but there is an exceptional satisfaction when teaching seniors because he can see the joy the movements have on them. 

“Some of them tell me they wanted to do this when they were children but didn’t have the opportunity. So now as grown ups, and some of them retired, they have more time,” he said. 

A journal by the National Library of Medicine revealed that dance, regardless of the style, can significantly improve muscular strength and endurance, balance and other aspects of functional fitness in older adults. 

According to Solano it also helps with her mental state.

“It helps me to keep busy instead of thinking nonsense stuff,” she said. 

Lopez is a very active person and also likes to dance. She said she has taken dance classes in the past and the instructors didn’t have the patience to teach her. But this group is different. 

“[Cruz] doesn’t get mad at us if we don’t learn the steps; he just goes back and teaches us again.”

Dulce Maria Torres, 59, has been with the group for eight years and she said this group is very motivational.

“Many people our age are in wheelchairs already, and this motivates me to keep moving my body,” she said.

Las Perlitas de Huntington Park also performs in public events like health fairs, parades, churches and schools. Even if they don’t get paid or get financial help to buy their outfits, the group finds ways to obtain them and participate.

The group will perform at Placita Olvera on May 4 in front of the kiosk and May 5 at the Maywood YMCA for their 5 de Mayo Celebration. 

You can visit the group during their practices every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Robert Keller Park, also known as the Civic Center Park, at 6550 Miles Avenue in Huntington Park.