A 95-year-old care home resident has returned to tap dancing after revisiting a lifelong passion.
Ted Barton, who lives at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, was supported by staff to attend a weekly dance class in Ferndown, helping him reconnect with a hobby he first enjoyed as a teenager and during his army service.
Ted had continued dancing for many years and met his late wife on the dance floor, with the pair regularly visiting dance halls together before later life.
Staff arranged for him to attend the Happy Tappy’s class at St Mark’s Church, where he initially watched others before putting on tap shoes and joining in with the group.
Elise Martin, Companionship Team Leader, said the session began with simple seated steps before building into a full routine inspired by classic tap styles.
The class is led by former professional dancer Yvonne Zaremskyi, who organised dancers into a chorus line, placing Ted at the centre as part of the routine.
She said once Ted put on the shoes, “his feet took over” and described how he joined in with tapping and clapping while smiling throughout.
Ted said returning to tap dancing felt “strange but amazing” and added he “loved hearing the sound” of the shoes as he followed the rhythm.
He said the group made him feel welcome and added: “I felt like a star.”
