Take a whirl

His uniform isn’t exactly sportswear — a nice button-down shirt, usually, and a tuxedo for more formal occasions — but ballroom dancer Tony Sawinski can’t help it.

He sweats. A lot.

“It’s strenuous,” said Sawinski, 59, who lives in Cresson. “In 10 minutes, I’ll be soaking wet.”

Ballroom dancing has kept Don Neely, 77, of Hollidaysburg in shape — so much so that when he recently saw a physical therapist for hip problems, the therapist asked why he was so limber.

“It’s good exercise,” Neely said. “Most people don’t realize how much energy you expend. It’s done a great deal for me.”

Someone, however, has taken note of the physical challenges of ballroom dancing. Known competitively as DanceSport, the International Olympic Committee is considering adding the competition to the 2016 Olympics.

In 2002, DanceSport submitted a request to be considered for admission to the Olympics. The IOC considers several factors in adding a sport, including the sport’s history and tradition, popularity and cost. DanceSport will not be included in the 2012 Olympic Games, but could be added in 2016.

In its report last summer on future Olympic Games, the IOC asked DanceSport to increase its spectatorship and television viewership, both of which the dancing community has been doing steadily, thanks to reality show “Dancing with the Stars,” which was ranked in the top five shows of 2007 for both its two weekly broadcasts, according to Nielsen Media Research ratings.

Gene Kleiser, owner of Duncansville-based Vertical Expressions in Dance, has been teaching ballroom dancing locally for about 18 years and said he’s always had a steady number of students, but it’s been “getting even bigger” recently.

“I’ve been getting a lot more phone calls, probably because of (Dancing with the Stars),” said Kleiser, 43.

Kleiser operates his dance lessons out of Holiday Ballroom in Duncansville, which Bob and Nancy Sutton opened in October. The studio combines space from the warehouse and showroom of Holiday Pools and Spas, which the Suttons also own.

“I think for a lot of baby boomers, their kids are out of college, and they need something to do,” Sutton said of the popularity of ballroom dancing.

It might help pass the time, but ballroom dancing also helps their health. Neely said for all the pursuit’s done for him physically, it’s done even more for him mentally.

“Ninety-five percent of ballroom dancing is mental, with the patterns and steps,” he said.

The combination of mental and physical activity makes ballroom dancing ideal for those looking to ward off memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s, said Donna Hescox, a nurse with geriatic and psychiatric certifications at Altoona Regional Health Systm, Bon Secours campus.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Hescox said. “When the vascular system is strong and healthy, you have fewer strokes and dementia problems.”

Blair Senior Services has offered a dinner-dance program for “years and years,” said Patti Isenberg, center manager at Blair Senior Center, Altoona. While the evening isn’t strictly ballroom dancing, attendees have been known to foxtrot and waltz, Isenberg said.

“It’s something to keep them healthy and fit and give them something to do,” she said.

But it’s not just seniors who are taking up ballroom dancing — Kleiser said he’s seeing more young people at dances and lessons, and some colleges offer competitive ballroom dancing.

‘‘It’s something they can do as a couple, and it’s competitive,’’ he said.

Young, old or somewhere in between, just about anyone can learn ballroom dancing, Kleiser said. Four basic components — walking steps, side steps, triple steps and rock steps — make up all dances, though the patterns get more complex as students advance.

Physical limitations aside, there’s just one factor in determining whether someone can be taught to dance.

‘‘They have to like the music and want to learn to dance to it,’’ Kleiser said.

Beyond body and mind, ballroom dancing also has emotional benefits for couples.

‘‘My wife and I took up dancing after we became empty nesters,’’ said Bill Engelbret, who declined to give his age. ‘‘We had to get to know each other without the kids underfoot.’’

Dancing has also helped Engelbret as an individual — it’s a great stress reliever, he said. When he started dancing he was the head of the Division of Business and Engineering at Penn State Altoona.

‘‘Dancing may have saved my life,’’ he said. ‘‘I had a very stressful job when I started to dance, and I was so tense, but after an hour (of dancing), I’d be loose.’’

Dancers are encouraged to dance with different partners to keep them on their toes, as partners tend to become familiar with each other’s habits and idosyncracies. But dancing is a ‘‘romantic thing,’’ said Sawinski, who’s been dancing with his wife, Karyl, for 12 years.

‘‘There’s no question about that,’’ he said.

Pursuing the sport without a regular partner ‘‘is not easy,’’ said Don Fahnline, 68, of Altoona.

Fahnline, who’s been dancing since 1990, said it is not easy to find partners who are ‘‘interesting,’’ but that shouldn’t discourage singles from dancing.

‘‘Take lessons,’’ he said. ‘‘There are partners usually available at the dance studios. The trick is that people do need to practice in order to improve and having someone to practice with makes it easier. But that could mean just going to dances at a dance studio.’’

There’s more going on on the dance floor than quick steps and cha-chas. The social aspect of dancing is a big draw for JoAnn and Dennis Murley of Bedford, who regularly dance in Altoona, attend dance camps in Las Vegas and seek out dance studios wherever they’re on vacation.

“Dancers are social by nature,” JoAnn Murley said. “They have refined social skills and tend to be inclusive.”

Whether he prefers the cha-cha or the samba, the jitterbug or the tango, a ballroom dancer never considers his work perfect.

‘‘It’s an imperfectable art,’’ Neely said. ‘‘You never reach the level you want to reach. You just keep getting better.’’

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Mirror Staff Writer Ashley Gurbal is at 946-7435.