Dancing through life

Dorothy Heacock turned 88 years old on Wednesday, but what's so special about her isn't necessarily her age.

"There's so much love in this room!" Heacock exclaimed, as friends wished her a happy birthday after her senior fitness class on Wednesday morning.

Other members of the class said, "She's phenomenal" and "What a wonderful lady" as they left the room.

Heacock has been a member of World Gym for almost a year and has been participating in the senior fitness class. Exercise has been a lifelong involvement in Heacock's life - Heacock has spent most of her life as a professional dancer.

"I'm ballet trained," Heacock said. "Then, after marriage and parenthood, I started tap dancing."

Born in Texas, Heacock trained as a dancer all throughout primary education, and decided to make dancing her career when she graduated from high school. She relocated to Hollywood to pursue her dream, and lived in Laguna Beach for many years before moving to Genoa after the death of her husband, to be close to her daughter. Heacock has lived in Genoa for three years, and she has two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.

Heacock was a tap dancer for a professional tap dancing company for many years. One memorable experience Heacock recalls from her dancing career was the month she spent in China.

"We were there for an exchange program and we tap danced," she said. "It was an interesting experience."

Aside from staying physically active - her fitness class is three mornings a week - Heacock enjoys gardening and playing bridge with her friends. Heacock said she plans to celebrate her birthday by going to lunch with her friends from her fitness class, but also said that the festivities began well before her actual birthday.

"I've been celebrating for three days," she laughed.

Heacock's fitness class is preparing for several local dance performances in the future. She said she plans to continue participating in fitness classes at the gym.

"It's so much fun," she said.