Members recently got their arms and feet moving to the beat at Kirtland’s Senior Center for a weekly line dancing class. Instructor Sandy Appeldorn led a group of about 13 students in a Feb. 3 class. She taught them a variety of line dance moves and then gave them a chance to practice to music. Ap peldorn said that she has taught the class in Kirtland for about three months. She started line dancing in 2018 but has been dancing since she was little. “You can dance with people but you’re not relying on them like you would in a ballroom dance or other couples’ dancing,” she said. Appeldorn added that she attends conventions across the country and has become “more of an advanced dancer.” “I want to teach because I want people to keep coming back to dance,” she said. Moves Appeldorn mentioned teaching included rumba box, jazz box, rocking chairs and steps from the Charleston. As she led students on Feb. 3, they stepped forward and back, danced in circles and completed other movements. “Your brain will fire up because you’re learning new ways to move,” she said. “You walk forward all the time. When do you walk back?” Members of the Kirtland Senior Center participate in a line dancing class on Feb. 3. (Bryson Durst -- The News-Herald) In addition to stimulating the brain in new ways, Appeldorn said that line dancing helps with balance or general movement. She said that line dancing also provides camaraderie and fun. She encouraged anyone looking to join to “give it at least six months.” “Please just come and have fun,” Appeldorn said. “It’s only about fun, it’s all we’re here for. If you’re not having fun, you shouldn’t be here.” She said she was substituting for class instructor Tina Foster, who was set to return a week later. Foster has taught line dancing for more than 35 years, and Appeldorn said Foster is teaching her to teach so they can have line dancing in other places. “She’s the reason I’m here,” Appeldorn added later. The senior center offers line dancing classes on Tuesday. The basic beginner class runs from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and an advanced beginner/improver class goes from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The center newsletter said that membership is required to participate in center programs. Membership is $10 annually for both Kirtland residents and nonresidents. The Kirtland Senior Center is located at 7900 Euclid-Chardon Road, Kirtland. More information is available at kirtlandcommunity.com. ...read more read less