♬ Strengthening Lives Through Dance & Music ♬ 

 

 

We are a fun, exciting and energetic group of Seniors who love dancing to old school R&B music and use it as our form of exercise.


 

Tami Drayton

Tami at a young age began to study ballet and train in Modern Jazz dance. Tami began performing dance routines for the annual variety shows hosted by the Les Filles Moderne social club in Los Angeles and other social events in the community. In High school she became the captain of the Dance team of Blair High where she & her leadership team of Elizabeth Ellis, Classie Ferguson, Frances Green & Barbara Mitchell choreographed dances and lead the team to victory in dance competitions. Tami began professionally with the Bi-centennial performing arts program, she was also a finalist with Harry Fox Miss Talented Teen pageant, After High School Tami trained in Modern dance under the direction of Rikki Magee at Pasadena City College and danced on Soul Train & performed with Together As One Productions – Lanny Mitchell director.

In 1989 the family moved to Portland OR, New Beginnings Christian Center is where Tami was Director of the Adult Dance Ministry, In 2000 Tami & the family moved back to Pasadena, they linked arms with Motown Hit Producer turned Pastor Frank Wilson and started as Dance Ministry Director at new Dawn Christian Village in LA. Tami and Clay immediately were cast in the film & TV industry working of various movies and commercials.

In 2015 they moved to Moreno Valley where they currently reside. Looking for social interaction they found the Moval senior center where Tami asked if she could offer Soul line dance classes to the members. The first class was 5 seniors, the next class it doubled, then doubled again and now there is an average of 40-50 seniors (ages 50-79) 3 times a week gathering together to Dancercise to their favorite Soul songs.

My goal is to help ALL people, especially Seniors have fun on the dance floor. To strengthen their dexterity, mobility and agility allowing aging to be graceful.

 

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Clay Drayton

Clay Drayton has been involved in the music industry for the past forty years. He started his first band as guitarist at 16 and became music Director for soul singer Deedee Warwick (Sister of Dionne)

He was a staff songwriter at Motown Records for 7 years. Clay wrote, arranged, produced and played on songs for Diana Ross, The Supremes, the Jackson 5, Jermaine Jackson, David Ruffin, Bette Midler and many others. He has earned gold & platinum records to his credit. He was Janet Jackson's very first producer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xJ76rptsfw.

Mr. Drayton not only writes songs for Pop/R&B Artists, but for Gospel artists as well. James Cleveland, Rev. Van Roberson and Phil & Brenda Nicholas (to name a few) have recorded his songs.

A licensed Minister of the Gospel, Mr. Drayton's desire is to help people find their God given potential in life. He speaks at Churches, Convalescent homes and schools. He was in ministry at Chino Prison for over 12 years and The Los Angeles Mission for 8 years and saw many lives changed.

Clay recently produced a song for the Riverside School district "1 Million Hearts of Kindness" for the anti-bullying KINDNESS Initiative.

 

   

 

With more than 40 years of experience in the Music & Dance industry, It's undeniable that We love what we do.

 

SENIORS ARE OUR PRIORITY

Move & Groove for Health is a non-profit organization that strengthens the lives of active Senior citizens (50 years and above) through dance and music. We provide various forms of movement classes daily (Line Dance, Zumba Gold, Body Toning, Fit after 50 etc). These classes refresh, renew and revive the physical and mental health of those who attend. Our attendees have benefitted from our services with amazing results that include, but are not limited to weight loss, blood pressure control, greater mobility and reactivated social lives. Our music therapy can help relieve stress, manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, even help people cope with cancer and other medical conditions. Our organization is also a social outlet for Seniors who are isolated and lonely. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we are currently using the ZOOM online platform for classes, as we keep the minds & bodies of our Seniors active.

Seniors (Baby Boomers) are the fastest growing demographic in the U.S. yet are often the MOST overlooked and under supported. A major study by Stanford University stated that “Stimulating one’s mind by dancing can ward off Alzheimer's disease and other dementia,” therefore our organization is vitally important to the Senior population. Many seniors are on fixed incomes and since the stay at home mandate, we have been making them aware of resources that are available to them (Drive thru-Food Banks, Special shopping hours for seniors etc.). We want to help provide them with the necessities to stay safe as we discover our “New Normal.”

Our demographics include men & women of various ethnicities and lifestyles, ages 50 above with a wide range of occupational backgrounds (homemakers, military, medical professionals, city officials, educators etc.) On an average we serve 50 participants per day 5 days a week. We provide various forms of dance classes to our favorite “Old School” music (Line Dance, Zumba Gold, Body Toning, Fit after 50 etc). Previously we’ve host monthly indoor dinner dance parties. Presently, we host quarterly outdoor event to encourage socializing with peers and to support physical activity. We also provide health and nutrition information, awareness about community services and other resources that are available.

Many of our members feel that they have found the fountain of youth participating in our programs, so much that we have coined the term “TEENIORS” as they feel and can move like teenagers again. We are honored to be considered in the number of worthy organizations to receive a grant from your company.

 

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Our Amazing Team  click image to view details


 

 
Tami Drayton

Co/Director

Professional Dancer, Singer, Actress, Dance Instructor, Seniors Health Advocate

Clay Drayton

CO/Director

Veteran Motown Songwriter, Producer, Arranger, Keynote Speaker, Seniors Health Advocate

Martha Anaya Mieles

Community Relations Coordinator

Martha Anaya Mieles has lived in Moreno Valley for 35 years. She retired from the County of Riverside as a Social Worker for Child Protective Services and as a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate. She is currently working part-time at Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD). Martha was just elected to be the "Alternate" for the Senior Advisory Board for The City of Moreno Valley. "My goal and commitment is to help Moreno Valley thousands of Seniors have productive, healthy and happy lives by promoting, supporting and helping programs that make our seniors thrive. I love to dance, dance, dance. Move & Groove for Health is a fantastic program for our seniors and I am committed in helping as the Community Relations Coordinator getting the word out about this fantastic dance and health program. We are not old, we are warriors of life."