87-Year-Old Dances in Rockettes' Workshop, her Wish of a Lifetime

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Dec 10, 2012, 06:09 ET

CLEARWATER, Fla., Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pauline Clark had a lifelong wish to dance with the famed Rockettes. For the 87-year-old former dance teacher, that wish came true this weekend, and it is an experience she won't soon forget.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121210/CL27234)

Clark, who lives at Freedom Inn at Countryside in Clearwater, Fla., traveled to New York City with her daughter-in-law Janet Motz to see a performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and participate in the Rockettes' Experience™, a half-day workshop with a member of the famed dance company, on Saturday, Dec. 8. The once-in-a-lifetime experience was made possible by Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale Senior Living.

"I feel like a celebrity," said Clark. "I have marveled at the Rockettes ever since I first saw them on TV. They're just gorgeous girls, and very nice. It was a lot of fun!"

Clark has been dancing since she was 7 years old, thanks to her brother who insisted that his baby sister not be a wallflower. She began taking dance lessons, which grew into a great passion for her. Clark has been actively involved ever since. After many years of learning different techniques, she taught the Jitter Bug and the Waltz at the Arthur Murray School of dance in Tallahassee.

A very outgoing and friendly person, Clark cared for several close family members during health issues they encountered. She now spends time warming everyone's day by bringing laughter to the conversation. She is on the resident council and also serves as a welcome ambassador for her community. But, Clark still loves to show off her dance moves whenever given the opportunity – and as the Rockettes can attest, despite being 87 she still has great moves on the dance floor.

In 2010, Brookdale Senior Living and Wish of a Lifetime formed a partnership to provide a helping hand in making some of the dreams of Brookdale's residents come true. To request a wish, residents fill out a wish application explaining an experience they would like to have fulfilled. Residents at Brookdale Senior Living communities nationwide are invited to share and submit their wishes at www.seniorwish.org. The fulfillment of wishes aligns with Brookdale's Optimum Life® platform, which cultivates whole-person wellness through six key dimensions: purposeful, emotional, physical, social, spiritual and intellectual. Since the partnership's inception, more than 250 Brookdale seniors have had their wishes granted.

Contact: Andrea Turner
615-564-8629 [email protected]

SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living