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Community Corner

Seniors Get Groovy in Dedham at Prom

Dedham Hilton hosts semi-formal as part of Dedham 375th anniversary celebration.

Local senior citizens shook their groove things at the Dedham Seniors on the Move prom, a semi-formal event held at the on Sunday. 

Event organizer Marilyn Keegan and the Dedham 375 Committee consolidated efforts to launch the event. Keegan emphasized the lack of senior events in Dedham as a motivating factor for putting the event together. 

"We have 5,800 seniors in Dedham [and] we don't have a senior center," Keegan said. "This is their day."

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The senior center currently uses space at on Washington Street.

Keegan, host of Dedham TV's "Seniors on the Move," noted she has spent at least three years trying to launch the event. 

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Seniors received the opportunity to boogie down and perform popular dances including the "Chicken Dance," "Macarena" and "The Electric Slide."

"It's a wonderful opportunity for friends and neighbors to come together, enjoy some camaraderie and [have] a good time," state Representative Paul McMurtry said.

McMurtry served as the prom's emcee, but joined seniors on the dance floor as well. The state representative admitted he is a fan of ballroom dancing. 

"I look forward to dancing a few dances and singing a few songs, and seeing everyone have a good time," McMurtry told attendees.

The Dedham 375 Committee became involved in the efforts to show their support for local seniors. 

"We said, 'What's better to support than the seniors?'" Dedham 375 Committee co-chair Donna Greer said, "so we jumped on board and helped them a little bit."

Greer estimated at least 130 seniors attended the event. 

"I can't get an accurate count because they are moving around so much," Greer joked. 

The prom offered seniors the complete prom experience, including food, drinks and even prom photos.

"It's wonderful seeing all us elderly [people] out there doing what they love to do," Ashland resident Adrienne Davis said. "This is so important for the elderly to keep moving."

Adrienne Davis attended the prom with her husband Larry, who said the prom provides a rare opportunity to showcase their dance moves.  

"We don't get to dance that much," Ashland resident Larry Davis said. "This is a pretty good time for us to get out."

McMurtry noted the prom's success could help it become an annual tradition in Dedham. 

"Where there's a will, anything's possible," McMurtry said, "and it seems to me to the generosity of all the sponsors, if their willingness continues, this is something that certainly can be here for years to come."

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