SWINGING THROUGH THE 60S NEWHALL SENIOR CENTER ALL SHOOK UP AS COOL CATS TAKE OVER DANCE FLOOR.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Swinging and gyrating with moves that would have made Elvis proud, the Cool Cats entertained lunchtime diners Thursday at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center with a repertoire of dances from around the world.

Founded two years ago as part of the Cool Cats rhythm band, the line- dancing troupe consists of local seniors ranging in age from 60 to the oldest member, age 97, who take dancing classes every Tuesday and Thursday at the center with Cool Cats director Donna Yantis.

They volunteer their time making appearances at retirement homes, adult day-care homes and churches across the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, performing free or for donations to the Home Delivered Meals program.

Most of the members are in the group in order to get some exercise, but they also enjoy performing and seeing the expressions on the faces of the people in the audience as they dance, Yantis said.

``It's fun. It's energizing. That's what we're about - having a good time,'' Yantis said. ``We turn and twist and get kind of tangled up sometimes.''

Decked out in denim pants or skirts, white T-shirts and red bandannas, the Cools Cats performed line dances from Europe, the Caribbean and the United States.

Even though she was scheduled to perform a Hawaiian dance solo during the performance, Vera Theelman, 84, showed no signs of nervousness before the show. In addition to being a longtime dancer with the Cool Cats, Theelman has macular degeneration, an illness that has affected her eyesight to the point that she now has only peripheral vision, and can't see the audience when performing.

``All I have left is some peripheral vision. That's what keeps me from bumping into my neighbors when I'm dancing,'' Theelman said.

Theelman displayed no signs of her illness, keeping perfect time with her fellow dancers and then changing into a Hawaiian-print dress to present the graceful hula dance, ``Lovely Hula Hands.''

Clapping, kicking, swinging and swaying to taped music with live accompaniment on the maracas and tambourine, the ladies performed five dances without a break, instead of their usual three.

``I try to always give the dancers a breather between sets,'' Yantis said.

Looking no worse for wear, Sheila Erickson, who gave her age as ``somewhere in the swinging 60s'' felt energized instead of fatigued after the performance.

``I'm not tired at all. This gets my adrenaline going and I'm ready to go,'' said Erickson, a former concert pianist who is used to performing in front of an audience. ``Once a ham, always a ham, I guess.''

While Erickson finds most exercise boring, she enjoys the dancing classes at the Senior Center and looks forward to the performances.

Vivian Kopes, who had to bow out of the dancing portion of Thursday's performance because of a foot injury, played the maracas in the rhythm band. She said she participates in the group both for exercise and for camaraderie.

``It's so much fun. We just enjoy being with one another,'' Kopes said. ``Plus it gets me out of the house and it's good therapy for my heart problems.''

The line-dancing classes meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday and Thursday at the senior center, 22900 Market St., Newhall. All students are invited to participate in the Cool Cats group, but it is not mandatory, and Yantis invites anyone who would like to get some exercise and have a good time to attend the classes.

For information about the classes or scheduling a performance of the Cool Cats, call the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center at [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Donna Yantis, director of the Cool Cats, gets dancers into the rhythm Thursday at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center in Newhall. Dance classes are offered every Tuesday and Thursday.

(2) Dottie Klemetson performs with the Cool Cats at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. Members range in age from 60 to 97.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer