The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES - As five-month residents of Florida's Friendliest Hometown from Dayton, Ohio, Joe and JoAnne Giessler have embraced The Villages lifestyle and were eager to take ballroom dance lessons.

But first, JoAnne called dance instructor Rita Nance to see if her husband could learn the steps.

"I asked her if she would take a student who couldn't see," JoAnne said, "and she told me she would love to have him."

Nance remembers the phone conversation.

"She called to make sure that he would be able to learn, but I have a brother that doesn't have any sight and I taught him to dance," Nance said, proudly noting that her brother went on to win silver and bronze medals in dance competitions.

"And Joe is doing wonderful," Nance said. "The learning is so good. He listens so intently."

Joe Giessler was shocked Monday night when he was introduced to the dance class at Pimlico Center as Rita and Bill Nance's 10,000th dance student in The Villages.

"This is a surprise," he said, while clutching a few prizes in recognition of the honor, including free tuition for future dance classes.

The Giesslers are in the 9:30 a.m. Monday class at La Hacienda Center, and they chose to study from the Nances so they could feel more comfortable on the dance floor. They attended the Monday night class to practice some of the swing steps.

"Just because you can't see doesn't mean you can't dance," Joe said, adding he gradually lost his vision from retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive degeneration of the retina that affects night and peripheral vision.

The disorder can lead to blindness, but usually not complete blindness. Joe said he can see light and dark but not objects or details.

He stopped driving 12 years ago and retired early as an aeronautical engineer. But the disorder hasn't dampened his desire to learn ballroom dancing or his desire to live life to the fullest.

"We like to dance, and up to now, we really had not had any real instruction. We just did our own thing. It was whatever we learned in high school, we were still doing," Joe said with a chuckle.

The couple wanted to be able to do the Latin dances, and they have enjoyed learning the rumba.

"It's been very good," Joe said. "Actually my wife is the eyes. If I am going the wrong direction, she'll give me a little nudge."

Joe believes others with limited vision can learn to dance, too.

"If you can move your feet and move, then you can do it," he said.

The Nances agree. They have been teaching ballroom dancing in The Villages for 10 years and enjoy sharing their passion for dancing with others.

"A couple is never too old to enjoy getting on the dance floor with the soft lights, sweet music and holding each other in their arms. Whether it is a beautiful waltz, dramatic tango or a romantic rumba, or even a fun and lively swing. Nothing can compare with letting your hair down, moving as one and enjoying the nightlife with your partner here in The Villages," Rita said.

"Dancing people are happy people," she added.

Theresa Campbell is senior features writer with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9260, or theresa.campbell@thevillagesmedia.com.