Waltz this way

Fast feet and swinging hips burned up the floor in the Mathewson Exhibition Center Wednesday as dancers older than 60 proved: “You’re only as old as you feel.”

The Missouri Waltz Competition has been going on for more than 20 years at the Missouri State Fair.

The dancers competed in waltz, polka, jitterbug and line dancing. First through third place cash prizes and plaques went to dancers in each category.

Leroy Van Dyke’s band played music for the event, as it has for the past several years. Van Dyke did not perform at the dance because he was singing in the Country Gold show at the Pepsi Grandstand Wednesday night.

Marilyn Tempel, office manager of Care Connection for Aging Services, said the event was outdoors under a tent for many years.

“This isn’t just a dance, but an all day affair,” Tempel said. “We start in here in the morning playing bingo, and people stay here all day, just enjoying the music, dancing and cool air.”

Even with the air conditioning blasting, the dancers worked up a sweat on the floor.

Marvin and Anna Bargfrede, of Sweet Springs, were one of those couples. They have been attending the event since 2000, and have won first place in the polka division two years in a row.

“We go dancing two or three times a week,” Marvin said.

“I have two brothers that play in bands, so we really get into the dancing,” Anna said.

The Bargfredes have been dancing together for as long as they can remember, but they never had any formal lessons.

“We just love it, so we get out there and move with the music,” Marvin said.

The couple always dances in matching outfits, and Anna sews them all.

“We’ve got so many we’re running out of space to store them,” Anna said.

Matt Steel, a country music artist originally from Steelville, performed before the awards were announced. He encouraged many of the couples dance to his original song “I’ve Still Got It Bad For You.”

“I saw some of you gettin’ pretty frisky with each other,” Steel said. “You all better get out here and dance.”

The Bargfredes will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this October, and are just as frisky as they were the day they met.

“He was friends with my older brother, but he never noticed me,” Anna said. “One night, I got stranded in town and it was raining and he gave me a ride home. We had a date the next Saturday, and we’ve been together ever since.”

Anna’s mother wasn’t Marvin’s biggest fan in those days, but now she refers to Marvin as “her favorite son-in-law.”

“I guess she finally decided she liked me,” Marvin said.