Quick on her feet

By Mary Alice Garrett

This story originally appeared July 7, 2005 in The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware.

OCEAN VIEW — Trying to keep step with 79-year-old Iris Mooney would tire a teenager.

Just ask line dance student Dolly Brinati.

"She has the energy of three people. I asked her once, ‘What do you eat for breakfast? She said, ‘half an English muffin with peanut butter.’ "

So that’s not the secret.

Mooney is a person of boundless energy and enthusiasm with a passion for teaching line dancing. The Chicago native does it for good causes in both of her hometowns — Ocean View and Marco Island, Fla.

Mooney volunteers her services as teacher to make money for the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company and Angel Flight Southeast in Florida. The latter is a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation for the needy to and from medical facilities.

Over the last six months, Mooney has been inside a few medical facilities. On Jan. 14, she suffered a stroke. That was followed by eye and heart surgeries in the spring. Mooney bounced back from the stroke in only a week. Her line dance students inspired her to recuperate so quickly she said. She missed only one day of class for eye surgery. And after surgery in May to repair a hole in her heart, Mooney is organizing a second fund—raiser for the Bethany Fire Company.

Widowed in 1996, Mooney became International Line Dancing Champion in 1997 at a competition in Memphis. In 2001, she was named Ms. Senior America for Delaware.

"I’ve always got my fingers in something," said the former aerobics instructor.

"I really like what I do. I’ve been doing line dancing since 1983. When I’m dancing, I forget everything. The music, I don’t know, music puts me on a high, just like a tranquilizer. My doctor says I’m lucky, a lucky old lady."

A typical class finds Mooney in a short ruffled skirt, wide metal belt, pink tank top with a white overblouse and fringed boots. After the third number, Mooney has shed her blouse. She keeps up a running commentary the whole time she’s teaching, and she always keeps moving.

"One, two, three, four, shuffle,’ said Mooney. "Somebody goofed. They turned their left foot out."

"New York, New York" is followed by "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Cowboy Boogey."

"You’re looking great," said Mooney "Turn, touch, slide. Woo, I like the action."

"She’s wonderful," said Marybeth Anderson of Elkton, Md., who has danced with Mooney in Marco Island for three years. "She’s great. I feel like she does a real service down here. It’s really a basic aerobic exercise."

Mooney demonstrated rotating her hips.

"It’s good exercise, girls," she said. "Wiggle your hips and do the salsa."

Before an Irish number she called out, “stomp, kick, shuffle in place."

"It’s a good workout each week," said Jackie Falcone of Essex City, N.J. "My husband doesn’t like to dance. She’s phenomenal. I think even her doctors are amazed."

Mooney choreographs many of her dances. She noted that line dancers move to all kinds of music (pop, rap and jazz) and incorporate many kinds of steps now. Her taste in music runs the gamut from Jim Croce to Marie Osmond, but she prefers country.

Eight years ago, Mooney’s son, George, was visiting in Florida and needed to go to Durham, N.C., for emergency surgery. That was her first exposure to Angel Flight Southeast.

"These pilots give up their time and planes for free," said Mooney "They’re angels of mercy no question about it." In February, Mooney raised more than $4,000 for Angel Flight by staging a fashion show and line dance demonstration at an exclusive resort in Marco Island. Her dance students in Marco and Naples, Fla., helped with the event.

"I’m going to reach for $10,000 next year," said Mooney. She plans to solicit funds from Florida businesses starting next fall when she returns to Marco Island.

Mooney recently received a plaque from Angel Flight that read, "Thank you for your big heart and happy feet."

Last summer, Mooney raised $1,200 for the Bethany Fire Company by holding line dance classes. She will offer six-week classes there again this summer Mooney also teaches at the Ocean City, Md., Recreation Center. It was in the 1980s in Ocean City that Mooney says she first “fell in love with line dancing."

Mooney sews most of her dance outfits and has a penchant for bright colors, ruffles and leather fringe.

"I like to look country," she said. She plans to continue to teach dancing "as long as I am capable of doing it. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not ready to give up any of things I’m doing."