Putting the 'senior' in 'senior prom': Royal Palm Beach hosts a decked-out dance for those 65 and over
ROYAL PALM BEACH — Eleanor Gerson, 79, twirled in a white, flared dress held by her husband Michael, 71, who wore a matching corsage. Their coordinated steps, a matured choreography, took them across the room between giggles.
They were the first couple to dance in Royal Palm Beach’s first "senior" prom — one for people age 60 and older.
“I feel young,” said Eleanor, who taught ballroom classes for decades. “I feel like I’m back.”
Royal Palm Beach’s Young at Heart senior citizen group hosted on May 26 the village’s first senior prom. Over 200 seniors attended the masquerade-themed party dressed in bright suits, beaded dresses and sequined jackets.
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Shakeera Thomas, the village's senior program supervisor, said the event celebrated seniors and gave some of them the opportunity to experience their first prom.
You're never too old for prom. Ask this 100-year-old.
At the age of 100 and nine months, Angelina Dawkins attended her first prom last week.
The Jamaican native wore a pastel pink jacket with a matching skirt and a blue feathered boa around her neck. She sat with her friends from the Young at Heart group and got a serenade from DJ and singer Troy McCray.
Dawkins said her favorite part was getting to dress up and watch people dance, though she didn't dance herself.
“It just feels nice,” she added.
They chaperoned proms for years. Now they got to enjoy one.
Sandra and David Samore have attended dozens of proms.
They worked for over two decades as educators in Palm Beach County, and each year they would organize the event for their students. Now retired, the village's senior prom was the first one they actually got to enjoy.
They were the second couple to set foot on the dance floor. Sandra’s butterfly top swayed back and forth against David’s bright blue jacket. They took ballroom dance classes for four years and expect to dance their retirement away.
“We are not going to run out," David said. "We are going to wear out.”
For Sandra, who took flamenco classes online during the COVID pandemic, the party was a rare opportunity to dance with other people, in-person.
“This is life,” Sandra said. “This is how it should be.”
Meet the king and the queen of the prom
Michael and Eleanor Balsam-Gerson danced for most of the party.
They met while working at The Traditions of the Palm Beaches, a senior-living facility in West Palm Beach, and Eleanor told Michael she wouldn't marry him unless he learned how to dance.
“Now, we look for every opportunity to dance,” said Michael.
At the end of the night, they were crowned the prom's queen and king.
“I’ve never been crowned for anything before,” said Eleanor. "It was a very special moment for us.”
Teen sees another side of her great-grandmother
Fredricka Nelson, 81, took her 15-year-old great-granddaughter, Jayda-Sky Rodriguez, as her guest to the prom.
Nelson wore a wine-colored, strapless dress with gold embroidery and Rodriguez styled a long black gown, with pearls and her hair wrapped in a high bun.
Rodriguez, who is a sophomore in high school, said attending the senior prom gave her the opportunity to see another side of her great-grandmother.
“She looks sexy tonight,” said Rodriguez, laughing. “I was able to meet all the friends she hangs out with.”
At the end of the party, Nelson was crowned the second "Prom Queen" of the event along with "Prom King" Ferdinand Hinds. Rodriguez erupted in applause.
Want to get involved with 'Young at Heart'?
Young at Heart is a nonpolitical senior group sponsored by the Recreation Department of the Village of Royal Palm Beach. It organizes monthly luncheons, activities and day trips.
Find more information on how to enroll by calling (561) 790-4124.
Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on Twitter at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 'Senior prom' in Royal Palm gives older crowd a day to dress up and dance
