HEY, HEY MACARENA : KARAOKE PROGRAM HELPS LIVEN UP SENIORS' LUNCH.Byline: Ann-Marie Sanchez Daily News Staff Writer Dressed in a bright, floral-print shirt, 67-year-old Charles Partamian shook his rump and drew cheers for his dance version of the popular hit ``Macarena.'' Partamian roused more than 40 seniors during the weekly lunchtime karaoke karaoke (Japanese; “empty orchestra”) Use of a device that plays instrumental accompaniments to songs with the vocal tracks removed, permitting the user to sing the lead. program with his outstretched out·stretch tr.v. out·stretched, out·stretch·ing, out·stretch·es To stretch out; extend. outstretched Adjective arms, swaying hips and contagious contagious /con·ta·gious/ (-jus) capable of being transmitted from one individual to another, as a contagious disease; communicable. con·ta·gious adj. 1. Of or relating to contagion. enthusiasm. With warnings such as, ``Here we go,'' and ``This is it,'' Partamian had many in the lunch crowd following his lead inside the air-conditioned auditorium of the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Senior Citizens Center. ``My girlfriend and I learned it (the Macarena) at a party and we loved it,'' said Partamian, who visits the center daily and volunteered during the karaoke program. ``We have a great time.'' The program, which started last month, offers seniors ``anything goes'' entertainment during what used to be a quiet and often mundane meal time. Two microphones on stage and a large karaoke machine allow singers to belt out their favorite song with accompanying music. A trend that caught on in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. after the Japanese coined the name, karaoke, which means empty orchestra. ``I like any kind of entertainment. It really livens things up,'' said Marcella Vortmier, 79. And for organizers it's an opportunity to find hidden talent and have fun. ``It's coming along pretty good,'' said Teresa Taskey, meal site coordinator. ``More and more people are starting to sing on stage and sometimes you can't get them to come down.'' Singing tunes from the '30s and '40s such as, ``Happy Days are Here Again,'' and ``Ain't She Sweet,'' are just some of the favorites performed by regulars who sing from 11:30 a.m. to noon. The short program offers seniors like Partamian a chance to ham it up Verb 1. ham it up - exaggerate one's acting ham, overact, overplay dramatic art, dramaturgy, theater, theatre, dramatics - the art of writing and producing plays and get a workout Workout Informal repayment or loan forgiveness arrangement between a borrower and creditors. workout 1. The process of a debtor's meeting a loan commitment by satisfying altered repayment terms. for both his physical and mental wellness. Something, he says goes hand in hand. ``I believe it gives you longevity in life because it gets your mind off the aches and pains,'' said Partamian, whose healthy stature hides his age. ``If you laugh and be happy, it doesn't cost you a penny.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--ran in SIMI only--color)Ada Hautzenroeder, le ft, Aileen Schaver and her husband, Bill, give the latest dance craze a whirl at the Simi Valley Senior Citizens Center. (2--ran in SIMI and CONEJO--color in SIMI only) Jo Lopresto pays homage to country-western legend Patsy Cline Patsy Cline (b. Virginia Patterson Hensley September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer, who enjoyed pop music cross-over success during the era of the Nashville Sound in the early 1960s. during Friday's weekly karaoke lunch program. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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