You Can't Help But Smile Watching This Dance

As 80 people ate ice cream in the Groton Senior Center and a man played “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” on a guitar, John Ricciardi, 83, danced with Ann Pace, 90.

“She happens to be a very good dancer,” said Ricciardi. “I think in her time she was an excellent dancer.”

Tuesday was the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Senior Center, and a crowd arrived to enjoy corned beef and cabbage, carrots, Irish soda bread and ice cream. Willie Nininger sang Irish music and strummed on the guitar

Ricciardi isn’t Irish - he’s Italian, but he enjoyed the program and often dances at social events. He chooses various ladies to dance with, some of whom have not danced in quite awhile.

Sometimes he hums or sings to his partner, or for memories, they’ll dance cheek to cheek. He doesn’t know Ann’s last name, but he's danced with her before.

Pace said she's always enjoyed dancing  She met her late husband on the dance floor.

“I live to dance,” she said. “My brothers all danced. We’d go dancing when we were single.”

She can’t twirl anymore because it makes her unsteady, she said. But Ricciardi gave her a little turn Tuesday.

“I’m way out of practice,” Pace said. “I wish we had more (like) John because he has to dance with everybody.”