For the time being co-located with the Downtown YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region while renovations of its own facility take place, the Colorado Springs Senior Center is a treasure box of fun and enriching activities.
During the Spring 2024 Senior Showcase, participants showcased both their skills and entertainment chops by performing acts including accordion, piano and violin performances, a poetry reading, dance numbers, and drumming and dance exercise class demonstrations. Not to mention some impressive juggling and singing.
Many performers were quite accomplished as befitted their age and experience. Others were gamely trying something new for the first time while having fun (and getting exercise!) doing it.
I found the entire show to be distinctly enjoyable, plus took part in some of it myself (the senior dance team, never pictured myself ever wearing sequins!). I joined partly as a stepping-out-of-my-comfort-zone activity, partly because I love to dance.
I messed up. I made new friends. The endeavor was worth it. One member of my dance team was 90. Others ranged in age, up from the 55 year old cut off to join the Senior Center. We came from a variety of dance experience backgrounds.
Overall folks exhibited that kind of tenacious, exuberant active-lifestyle I admire and want to emulate.
Having attended many recitals of various kinds (mostly kids’ school performances) in my life, I can say that this was not one of those painful-but-for-a-good-purpose types of shows. Lol. It was truly entertaining and enjoyable to watch.
Showcases are free to the public to attend. Some classes at the Senior Center are also free (juggling, dance team), as they’re paid for by grants and/or donations.
From the City’s website regarding the renovation of the Patty Jewett location:
“The Colorado Springs Senior Center in the Golf Acres shopping complex has served tens of thousands of residents since 1986, providing an invaluable service to the community. Recognizing the value of this building and service to its residents, the City of Colorado Springs has committed to providing a safer, larger, more accommodating facility for Senior Center patrons. The new center will be built adjacent to the current Senior Center building at the intersection of Caramillo Street and Hancock Avenue in the northeast corner of the Golf Acres property. Construction is expected to begin in October 2023 and last 18-24 months.”
A Flickr photo album of the event by Victoria Atencio of the YMCA is viewable here.
