1950s prom night magic
As song after song filled the room with music — and with nostalgia — Jean and Emma Cottreau sat at a table holding hands.
Their love story is still going strong after 48 years of marriage.
Every day Jean leaves their home in Concession, Digby County to come to the Villa Acadienne in Meteghan to spend time with his wife Emma, who has lived there for two years.
On this particular evening, July 18, they danced to the song “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”
They’ve danced together many times before, but this time was different. It was their first prom together. For the couple and everyone else in the room, it was a throwback to decades ago.
Clare natives Danielle LeBlanc and Briand Melanson, who now live in Toronto, have always been passionate about music. With the help of friends — all volunteers — they launched an initiative called Twist and Shout Prom Night, in which they recreate a 1950s prom for the residents of seniors long-term care facilities.
They’ve held three proms in the Toronto area and now locally as well.
Yellow, purple and white balloons and streamers were hung at the Villa Acadienne. Flowers adorned tables. Corsages were brought in for the residents. Staff and volunteers raided closets and Frenchy’s in search of dresses and clothing to be worn at the prom.
In her room an hour-and-a-half before the prom started, resident Rose Muise was excited. Brought up in Yarmouth, she had never been to a prom.
“I went to the St. Ambrose school. They didn’t have one,” she said.
She said it was “awesome” that people had organized the event.
She wore a special outfit and a string of pearls around her neck. A headband added extra bling and she wore bright red lipstick.
As the time drew closer to the start of the prom, the villa staff was as excited as the residents. When the band, Bamtone and the BeBops, did their soundcheck earlier in the day it really started to sink in.
“We’re all ecstatic,” said Sarah Thompson, the recreation co-ordinator at Villa Acadienne.
The evening’s prom king and queen, the Cottreaus, got up for another
dance, this one to the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have to Do is Dream.”
From those watching there was applause, there were cheers and there were even tears — not because it was sad, but because the night was so moving.
Right up until the very last dance, it was just a perfect evening.
At the end of the prom most of the decorations were taken down, but not all, some were left behind so the residents could continue to enjoy the moment.