It’s a Saturday, and techno music is blaring in the gym of the Lincoln Square Recreation Center in Chinatown. No, it is not a continuation of an early-morning rave.
Since July, the popular neighborhood center has been offering beginning line dance classes on Saturday mornings, where more than 125 — mostly Chinese-American seniors — have enrolled.
"Line dancing is very good," said instructor Alice Lo, decked out in a turquoise velour shirt, blue jeans and spiffy red and black dance shoes. "You don't need a partner. You don't have to dress up. It's good exercise."
Densely populated areas such as Chinatown are in need of recreational programs like this. Many families live in cramped quarters, often having to share precious space. Even the streets and restaurants often are overcrowded.
Lo, who is in her 50s, promptly begins the Saturday class at 9 a.m. More and more students trickle in soon after she demonstrates the lindy shuffle, then the twist, until the gym is packed.
"Twist to the left, " she instructs through her headset in English, punctuated with occasional phrases in Cantonese. "One, two, three, four, twist to the right!"
Line dancing is often associated with country music. But Lo, who is originally from Hong Kong and lives in Castro Valley, teaches steps borrowed from the hustle, cha-cha, rumba, waltz, swing and twist, among others — and uses all genres of music.
"The goal of my class is that I would like more opportunities for the community to get out of the house, exercise, meet friends and socialize," Lo said.
For the full text of this article, click on http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/ci_7374948.
Since July, the popular neighborhood center has been offering beginning line dance classes on Saturday mornings, where more than 125 — mostly Chinese-American seniors — have enrolled.
"Line dancing is very good," said instructor Alice Lo, decked out in a turquoise velour shirt, blue jeans and spiffy red and black dance shoes. "You don't need a partner. You don't have to dress up. It's good exercise."
Densely populated areas such as Chinatown are in need of recreational programs like this. Many families live in cramped quarters, often having to share precious space. Even the streets and restaurants often are overcrowded.
Lo, who is in her 50s, promptly begins the Saturday class at 9 a.m. More and more students trickle in soon after she demonstrates the lindy shuffle, then the twist, until the gym is packed.
"Twist to the left, " she instructs through her headset in English, punctuated with occasional phrases in Cantonese. "One, two, three, four, twist to the right!"
Line dancing is often associated with country music. But Lo, who is originally from Hong Kong and lives in Castro Valley, teaches steps borrowed from the hustle, cha-cha, rumba, waltz, swing and twist, among others — and uses all genres of music.
"The goal of my class is that I would like more opportunities for the community to get out of the house, exercise, meet friends and socialize," Lo said.
For the full text of this article, click on http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/ci_7374948.
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