DANCER Lor Kim Seng and his wife Tai Soo Hwa easily caught the eye with their graceful and elegant performance during the 40th-anniversary celebration of the Senior Citizens’ Association Penang at Lot33 in Prangin Mall recently.
The two septuagenarians were among the many dancers waltzing on the floor at the association’s dinner and dance celebration.
The dancers, who came from different clubs, performed with skill and elan. There were line dancing, Latin dance, Nyonya dance and rock-and-roll dance.
Lor (third from left) showing off the second prize he won at a square rumba competition a few years ago.
Lor, 70, said dancing is a good way to stay healthy and happy, irrespective of age.
Having retired after being a Grab driver for seven years upon reaching the age limit of 70 in July, he now devotes about five days a week to attending dance lessons with Tai, 73. At times, Lor himself would go for a singing session in the morning, followed by a dance lesson at night on the same day.
Lor was previously a car salesman and a coffee shop operator.
He used to dance in the earlier years but had stopped for quite a long time. In fact, he and his wife started to join the Ballroom Dance Club and Senior Citizens Club of the Penang Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in 2016.
“My wife is a pensioner and I am no longer a Grab driver. So, with nothing much to do, we began to participate in singing and dancing.
“Learning how to dance can be difficult at the beginning, but once you get in the groove, you will enjoy it.
“We learn ballroom dances like waltz, tango, quick step, foxtrot and Viennese Waltz and also Latin dances like jive, cha cha, rumba, samba and rock-and-roll,” Lor said.
To Lor, senior citizens should not be cooped up at home doing barely anything or just living aimlessly.
“I think physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle can make a person go senile. Through dancing, we can socialise and make new friends. Life will become more meaningful and happier,” he said.
The couple has three adult children and two grandchildren.
Asked about senior citizens who said they have no time because they have to take care of their grandchildren, Lor said it was good of them to help care for their grandchildren but they should also have a time of their own.”
Lor also expressed his strong support for the activities and policies of the state government to actively promote and encourage active ageing.
“The initiatives taken by the state government are a step in the right direction. An active life can make a person healthier and more cheerful. You may even forget your age when you take part in the activities,” Lor said.
After the movement control order was lifted, Lor said they virtually forgot all the dancing steps after two years of inactivity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
But after putting on the dancing shoes, they regained their rhythm and balance following frequent practices.
Lor also serves as a committee member of the YMCA Ballroom Dance Club and a vice-president of the YMCA Senior Citizen Club, while Tai helps in other miscellaneous matters. The couple will also go to Straits Quay once a week to take part in a singing session.
According to Lor, the YMCA Ballroom Dance Club has over 100 members, including some who are over 80 years old and still actively dancing.
Because of their experience, Lor and Tai often help their instructors by guiding newcomers during practices.
The club holds various activities for its members, such as birthday parties and dance parties.
One of the highlights which Lor and Tai as well as other members are looking forward to is the Christmas Dinner and Dance slated to be held at the YMCA on Dec 18.
Lor and his wife are an exemplary couple in that life can be lived to the fullest.
State executive councillor Chong Eng, who is in charge of Social Development and non-Islamic Religious Affairs, has constantly espoused the concept of active ageing.
She said Penang has been working on ways to create an age-friendly city, knowing that the state is now the second highest ageing state in Malaysia after Perak but is projected to be the top ageing state by 2040.
“The state government always wants to promote active ageing. And active ageing is not when you become 60 or 70 years old, then only you start to do something.
“From now, whatever your age, if you are above 20 or 30 or younger, you should have cultivated some hobby and keep on it so that when you retire you have a hobby.
“Having a hobby makes your mind active and slows down the ageing process. A hobby will also give you certain fulfilment in life,” Chong Eng said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat, Darwina Mohd Daud and courtesy of Lor Kim Seng