Richard Britt and Dana Wellman dance a two-step to “Hey Good Lookin’” by Hank Williams during a “senior prom” dance at Brandon Woods at Alvamar. Britt is a resident at Brandon Woods and Wellman is a volunteer for the Panhellenic Association and a member of Delta Gamma sorority.

Ah, ba ba ba, ba Barbara Ann

Ruby Sherman starts tapping her hand on her knee. A smile flashes across her face. “Barbara Ann” continues to play.

She starts clapping and tapping her feet with the rhythm of the famous Beach Boys cover. Slowly, those sitting around the edges of the room with Sherman start tapping their feet, too.

“I used to love to dance,” Sherman said. “The jitterbug, the waltz — I could do anything.”

Members of the Panhellenic Association at Kansas University put on a “senior” prom for the residents of the Brandon Woods and Pioneer Ridge retirement communities on Sunday afternoon. About 25 women representing various chapters of KU’s greek community volunteered at Brandon Woods at Alvamar, and about 20 volunteered at Pioneer Ridge.

With DJ John playing music from the ’50s and ’60s, the event at Brandon Woods included other traditional prom paraphernalia such as food, punch and paper-flower boutonnieres for the residents to wear.

Sherman said the music and dancing reminded her of her younger years in life, including her own high school prom.

“It seems like yesterday,” she said.

Jenna DeGennaro, Panhellenic vice president of Philanthropy and Community Service, said the purpose of the event was to bring a youthful energy into the retirement communities.

“It’s about bringing joy into an environment where it’s not always the happiest, and if we have the chance to do that, why not?” DeGennaro said.

Suzy Jach, the activities director at Brandon Woods, said the retirement community enjoys many entertainment events, but the residents have never had a prom. She said the residents get excited for these kinds of events.

“We party all the time,” Jach said.

Although many residents said they prefer dances that were popular decades ago, the DJ also played more recent dance hits such as “Macarena.” And with 17-year-old Miley Cyrus singing “Party in the U.S.A,” many of the elderly residents danced along with the college women.

DeGennaro said she wants the “senior” prom to become an annual spring tradition for the Panhellenic Association and members of the greek community

“I want girls to realize how fun it could actually be to interact with the elderly,” DeGennaro said.