Octogenarian Couple Has Been Square Dancing Since 1956—Credits Good Health, Happy Marriage to Dance

For acclaimed square dancer Donald Hanhurst, 88, and his wife, Loretta, 85, dancing is not just a shared passion but a lifestyle. And they’re not giving up their favorite hobby anytime soon. Donald, who’s affectionately known as Don, began square dancing in 1949 and credits the good health and clear memory that he still enjoys to a lifetime of dance. “Nothing compares to the benefits of square dancing,” he told the Epoch Times. “During this time, we work our bodies physically, our minds intellectually, and our spirits socially. What could be better?” Don and Loretta. Don has been a square dance caller and teacher at clubs around the United States. (Courtesy of Donald Hanhurst) With its roots in both American and European traditional cultures, square dance involves four couples dancing to a series of steps, or “calls,” that are announced by a caller. These steps determine the coordinated moves dancers perform on the dance floor....