The other day, the Stokes Opportunity Singers dropped by the King Senior Center and put on a show for about 60 seniors.
While the 16 singers -- all adults with developmental disabilities -- were doing the full-body version of the "Hokey Pokey" by putting assorted body parts in, putting assorted body parts out, and shaking them all about, seniors Audine Cox, Susan Tribble and Almeta Bowen were doing more conservative, upper-body-only versions of the "Hokey Pokey" in their chairs.
The next song brought a change in tempo. Jim Chambers sat in a chair with the rest of the group standing behind him and sang "Amazing Grace" a cappella.
While he was singing, he had the focused expression of someone giving his all to the task at hand. As soon as he finished, he relaxed and a warm grin lit up his face. Cox leaned over to Tribble and commented on what a fine smile it was.
A couple of songs later, the singers went way up-tempo with the "Cupid Shuffle." By then, Cox, Tribble and Bower were thoroughly engaged. No
dancing while seated for them this time. They pushed aside their chairs and headed to the front where they enthusiastically joined the dancing singers.
The "Cupid Shuffle" was new to me but, when I was talking to the women after the show, they said they were quite familiar with it.
"We do line dancing," Cox said. "Everybody knows the ‘Cupid Shuffle.'"
The King Senior Center is a happening place. The women said they come here most weekdays. Along with line dancing, the list of activities includes computer classes, bluegrass dancing, tai chi, games (cards, puzzles, bingo) and an exercise class.
By this time, Chambers was enjoying a lunch prepared for the singers and seniors by a passel of volunteers. Ten desserts were available, and Marie White had made enough ziti for everyone.
"She is Italian and you cannot get that out of the blood," Sonya Harris said.
Chambers, 56, said he had been a little nervous about singing in front of everyone but that he felt comfortable with the song itself.
"I've been going to church my whole life, so I know it well," he said. "I just wish my mom was here to see it. She passed away January of this year."
When I asked other members of the group what they liked best about putting on the shows, more than one started out with, say, dancing, but then kept adding to the list until they had pretty much included everything.
Kara Decker, 25, skipped those preliminary steps and went straight to, "I like it all."
Bobby Edwards, 44, though, had a clear favorite part -- that's the part where he got to step up and crow like a rooster.
"I did a good job as the rooster," he said.
Yes, he did. There's no question that, if you ever need someone to crow like a rooster, Edwards is your man.
"Bobby is a fine, fine rooster," said Paul Kindley, who acted as master of ceremonies for the show.
Kindley is the coordinator for Forsyth Technical Community College's Stokes County programs, and the Stokes Opportunity Singers program is part of the college's compensatory-education program.
About four years ago, Kindley and Kris Jonczak, the compensatory-education teacher, began expanding the program into the arts. With help from grants and such, they have added such elements as art, hand bells and drumming, and they been taking everyone on field trips to arts festivals and other culturally enriching places.
"I love coming to work," she said. "They love to perform. My goal is to have them perform at the White House."
Chambers' sister, Carol Shamburg, said that she has known many of the people in the class for years, and that, since Jonczak has been working with them, they have come a long way.
"It's amazing to me," Shamburg said. "I hope she can see the progress I can see."
■ Kim Underwood can be reached at 727-7389 or at kunderwood@wsjournal.com.
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