NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The older people get, the harder it can be to stay physically active, but one Lowcountry line dance group is working to make that easier, by stepping with soul.
Twice a week for two and a half hours each class, one group of Lowcountry seniors gets active in a unique way at the North Charleston Athletic Center. Liticia Whitten created the Flow Ezy Line Dance Crew in 2018. She’s encouraging dozens of others in the Lowcountry to get moving.
“I just love line dancing. I love all that it does for you and it’s my passion. And I just wanted to share it with others,” Whitten said.
Whitten, donned in her signature hats, teaches the group of 40 or more seniors during any given class some fancy footwork to the music of blues, gospel, cool jazz, hip-hop and rhythm and blues.
“I like to dress up and coordinate my hats and my shoes and my t-shirts. So every Tuesday and Thursday mornings, I look forward to coming out, jumping out and getting out of bed and coming to dance with my family because I now consider the Flow Ezy Line Dance Crew my family,” Whitten said.
Her goal is to show you don’t have to be a dancing expert to get in on the fun of line dancing.
“And they say, ‘I don’t know how to dance.’ And I say, ‘You don’t. If you can walk or even if you can sit. Just as long as you can move to the music, no matter if you’re on the floor or in your chair doing it,’” she said.
Flow Ezy is giving people like 68-year-old Beverly Jenkins a purpose to get up and go.
“Right now, for many of us, we can’t go out like we did when we were younger and dance and just be with our peers and stuff. So now when you can, come every week and get safe dancing,” Jenkins said.
She’s been dancing with the group for five and a half years, building community and clocking upward of 13,000 steps each class.
“It’s fun. We’re a family. Tish [Liticia], our leader, took us from not knowing organized dancing to doing that and having fun with it as well,” Jenkins said.
Whitten calls it her lifestyle.
“You have physical and social well-being and it’s fun and it’s not like just going to the gym and exercising. But we do it to music. We exercise. And you’re exercising and you don’t even realize it,” Whitten said.
Newcomer Francine Bonaparte has been with the group for about a year. She was inspired to join by her journey for a healthier life.
“I’m an asthmatic, COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], been on oxygen and overweight. And since I started the Flow Ezy, my breathing is improving, I’ve lost 31 pounds and my asthma doctor is very pleased,” Bonaparte said.
“I’ve been on oxygen. I’ve had it all. But I am thankful because let me explain to you, this girl is getting sexier with the Flow Ezy Line Dance and I’m thankful for them because they got me moving,” Bonaparte said.
While each participant’s reason for joining looks different, what’s the same is their gratitude for Whitten. During this particular class, the group presented her with a special plaque.
“We present to you, we thank you for your commitment to health through the art of dancing because of you, we will always flow easy, from the Flow Ezy Line Dance,” Bonaparte said.
The Flow Ezy Line Dance Crew meets every Tuesday and Thursday at the North Charleston Athletic Center from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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