She can dance, she can jive, she’s having the time of her very long life. It’s been decades since Dinkie Flowers danced professionally, but her advanced age hasn’t stopped her from busting a move, claiming she won’t stop dancing until “they take me away in a box.”
“Dancing keeps you alive, and dancing and being in the sun makes me happy,” Flowers, who turns 102 years old next month, shared with South West News Service.
“Dancing has helped keep me healthy. Everyone should do something, they shouldn’t be on their bottom all day,” the former acrobatic skater said. “I’ll do a little bit of dancing, I can’t stop dancing, you see.”
Flowers, from Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, will be celebrating the milestone with a ritzy tea party on May 7—wwhere she intends to show off her birthday boogie.
“It will be a few friends around and afternoon tea in the garden. We do it properly: We’re going to get the china out and dress the table, do it really nicely,” Lesley, Flowers’ caretaker, told SWNS. “We’ll be doing the typical sandwiches, like if you go to the Ritz for afternoon tea—ccucumber sandwiches with crusts cut off, scones, cream cakes, all done in the afternoon tea style with china cups and proper tea.”
Lesley continued, “A little bit of music and some family and friends, but people tend to drop in cards and things for her.”
Flowers, who is now one of the oldest residents of the United Kingdom, was born in 1921 when George V was king — meaning that she has lived through five monarchs as well as 22 prime ministers.
As a professional dancer, the mother of one has performed all over the world and even graced the stage in Baghdad, Iraq, in front of the late Prince Philip.
“She’s known very well around Shoreham,” Lesley said of the consummate choreographer. “She’s taught generations around here, and people have danced with her for years.”
Flowers also hopes that her celebration can help raise funds for a local charity, the Gateway Hub, which facilitates mutual aid for the community.
“Dancing is my life, I love it,” she said. “I’m raising the money for charity because it’s a local charity and I like to do it.”
