Page 59 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2016

from the Gulfport School District, was the director of the senior companion program at the time.
A handful of students came to the first class in September 2013 at the Frances Fredericks Senior Center in Gulfport, and as others heard about the urban style of dancing, more came.
Lucy Hazeur of Pass Christian, a retired social worker, has found the dance classes to be beneficial. “Ben and Lucille are wonderful. They are calm and
there’s no pressure. If I mess up, we laugh. We are all enjoying the love of dance. The dancing has helped my back, and my doctor said it was the best thing for me,” she said.
JoAnn Fields of Gulfport said the companionship and physical activity has given her a boost. Retired from the Veterans Administration, she is the media contact for the group.
When Buckles joined the class, she loved it so much, she brought members from her bowling league to join in.
“Like Ben, I have two left feet. The dance has been really, really good for me. I went from a dress size 12 to a size 8,” she said.
The South Mississippi Ballroom Dancers-Urban Style members perform for public events. In March, they are traveling to Pensacola for a ballroom dance and dinner.
Gibson and his wife teach at the Frances Fredericks center from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday and Thursday,
at Randolph Senior Center in Pass Christian from
6-8 p.m. on Monday and at the Paralyzed Veterans
of America facility in Gulfport from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday. No fee is charged. They expanded to evening classes because of interest from people of all ages and backgrounds, and would like to offer classes in Biloxi and Ocean Springs.
“We welcome people from all walks of life. Dancing is an equalizer,” Ben Gibson said.
South Mississippi Ballroom Dancers-Urban Style, go to their Facebook page smbdancers@gmail.com 228.206.5510 or 228.669.4807
SMBD EXECUTIVE BOARD: Lucille Gibson; instructor, Linda Reasor; recording secretary, Neille Jones; treasurer, Evelyn Buckles; president, Gwen Dunlap; financial secretary, Joann Fields; public relations/media, Ben Gibson; instructor, Sidney Bibby; Vice President (not pictured).
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net March 2016 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 59