Community Corner
91-year-old dancer dazzles The Rockettes with her splits
Jeannette Dunstan visited New York to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular on a trip sponsored by The Glades at ChampionsGate
On a recent trip to New York City, Jeannette Dustan, 91, shocked and amazed the Radio City Rockettes with her ability to drop into a perfect split. Dustan met the Rockettes backstage as part of a trip to New York planned and paid for by The Glades at ChampionsGate, the senior living community where she lives.
Dunstan is an award-winning ballroom dancer, who performed at the community recently during a community-wide birthday celebration. She began dancing at the age of 78, and since then has participated in pro/am ballroom dancing competitions all over the world, including in Las Vegas, Argentina and Cuba. But as a girl, she dreamed of being a Rockette.
“When I learned about Jeannette’s love of the Rockettes, I stopped dead in my tracks,” said Elizabeth Pitcher, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Watermark Retirement Communities, the senior living provider that manages The Glades at ChampionsGate. “I used to work for Radio City Music Hall and one of the shows I worked on was the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. I said then and there that Jeannette’s going to a show and she’s going backstage to meet the Rockettes!”
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With friends and former colleagues still at Radio City Music Hall, Pitcher called in a favor and secured two orchestra tickets and backstage tour passes for Jeannette. The Glades at ChampionsGate also paid for her airfare and Jeannette was accompanied by the Executive Director of the community, Heather Corton, on the trip.
During their three-day adventure, Dunstan and Corton stayed at The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights, another Watermark Retirement Community, which features sweeping views of downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. They also enjoyed dinner in Manhattan and a private car service.
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On November 29, the two Osceola-county residents attended the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and met several performers backstage before the show. There, Jeannette shared her story of how she got into ballroom dancing and told the Rockettes about her many awards she’s won in the last 13 years. All before dropping to the ground to show them her splits.
“This was the trip of a lifetime for me and Jeannette,” said Corton. “It was incredible to see the joy on her face at every step of the way and to experience this alongside her. She asked me several times ‘why are you doing this for me?’ and I told her it’s because she’s family and we want her to thrive and live her life to the fullest. That means helping to make her dreams come true when we can.”
The Glades at ChampionsGate offers independent, assisted living and memory care with a unique emphasis on wellness. Residents like Jeannette enjoy a full calendar of fitness classes, programs and educational programming through Watermark University. Extraordinary Outings are also a regular part of resident life.
About The Glades at ChampionsGate
Located in ChampionsGate, Fla., The Glades at Champions Gate is a 223-apartment independent, assisted living and memory care community located at 8400 Champions Gate Blvd. Amenities include a fitness center, movie theater, swimming pool, and four unique dining venues, as well as award-winning programming through Watermark University. Managed by Watermark Retirement Communities, The Glades at ChampionsGate is committed to creating an extraordinary and innovative community where people thrive. For more information, visit https://championsgate.watermarkcommunities.com.
About Watermark Retirement Communities®
Watermark creates extraordinary and innovative communities where people thrive. We believe aging is about renewal rather than retirement. Watermark communities are known for highly trained and caring associates, a lifestyle built on choice, fine amenities, integrative wellness and innovative programs including the award-winning Watermark University featuring a wide variety of engaging classes for residents and area seniors. Watermark has been named in the top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services™ in a national program conducted by the Great Place to Work® Institute and published on Fortune.com. Based in Tucson AZ, Watermark is a privately held company with a reputation for over 30 years for service, innovation, integrity and financial stability, and manages more than 65 retirement communities in 21 states coast to coast. Visit watermarkcommunities.com for more information.
