Grooving Grandmas: Mumbai's Seniors Defy Age with Lively Line Dancing

As of September 2025, a vibrant line dancing community has taken root in Mumbai's parish churches, with seniors in their 60s, 70s, and 80s gathering weekly to groove to the beat. The activity was first introduced to the city's parish culture around 18 years ago by a parishioner of Mahim's St. Michael's Church, Reina Azavedo, who had learned the dance form abroad.

Encouraged by Bishop Bosco Penha to organize recreational activities for retired Christian seniors, Azavedo chose line dancing, a synchronized group dance performed in parallel rows. What started with just eight women practicing in Azavedo's living room has now blossomed into a vibrant community, with groups like the Evergreen Line Dancers and the Legacy Line Dancers drawing participants from parishes across Mumbai.

The dancers, who meet at community halls like the one at St. Anne's Church in Mazgaon, not only enjoy the physical benefits of line dancing - improved balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility - but also the social aspect. "Line dancing isn't simply about dancing; it's also about bonding," says Sandra McMahon, 64, who teaches the St. Anne's group. The dancers celebrate birthdays, go on picnics, and form lasting friendships through their shared passion.

Despite the enthusiasm of the participants, the line dancing groups have struggled to recruit male members, with a few initially joining but soon quitting. However, 76-year-old Aroon Fernandes has remained a dedicated member, attending the classes at St. Anne's with his wife Elaine since they began. "What keeps me going is that she enjoys it too," he says, calling it an unconventional yet rewarding way to exercise.