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By Vanessa Ogle
Brooklyn Daily
“Greased Lightning” never gets old.
Community members of all ages — about 50 students from PS 100 and six senior citizens from JASA Trump 4 Us — sang, shimmed and shined their way through a performance of “Grease” in the lobby-level recreation building of the senior complex on W. Fifth Street.
“I can’t even explain how it brings the community together,” said Ellen Halpern, director of the JASA Trump 4 Us Natural Occurring Retirement Community. “They’re all different ages, 9 to 95.”
Nikita Katsnelson and Ilana Yakubova starred as daring Danny and sweet Sandy. The two — along with the rest of the crew — put on quite a show, with dances as flashy as lightning and songs as slick as grease. But the fun event, which includes involvement from teachers, students, and senior citizens, offers an array of emotions for its audience.
“We cry because it works out so good,” said Halpern, noting how flawlessly the teachers, students, and senior citizens work together.
Though the students differ every year, the senior citizen participants usually stay the same. After the event, there are snacks for the students and the senior citizens. Halpern said they like to make sure there’s always plenty of activities — from specials lectures to pizza nights to bingo — happening right in the building.
“The seniors don’t have to go anywhere,” she said.