GAZETTE Tampa Bay Gay and Lesbian News

By Tanya Baker
Giving back to the community takes on whole new meaning with the Forever Young Dancers. They will literally dance their pants off for a charity. This group of men ages 55 to 75, have been shaking their nearly-naked booties all over Tampa Bay for the past eight years - and have raised thousands of dollars in the process.

Fred Clausen, a 74 year-old former actor and movie extra, started the Forever Young Dancers when he retired to Florida. He and some friends were invited to attend a birthday party for a reporter friend and he got the idea to perform for her. "I asked if it was all right if we danced for her because we had just stated doing our routine. We went there with a little boom box, flipped our britches, of course, and I had Happy Birthday written on my buns," said Clausen.

According to Clausen, she loved the show and wrote a story on the dancers for the Gulfport Gabber. After a while, the word got out and the men found themselves performing before condo associations, wives' clubs and veterans organizations. They change costumes between dances anywhere they can backstage while two female singers and comedian, J.B. Fustin, keep up the entertainment.

All money the dancers receive for a show goes directly to charity, mainly to Tampa Bay's homeless, through the Human Outreach Team, run by the MCC Church. They have also danced for other charities, such as the Red Cross, Literacy and Hospice. The money is not for church or any other expenses and goes directly to the charity. The dancers themselves provide all funds needed for technical gear and costumes.

According to dancer Richard Jensen, 69, they are contacted by organizations trying to raise money for charity and asked if they will entertain. "If we think it is a worthwhile cause, we will provide the entertainment and we don't ask for money," he said. When tips are stuffed into their G-strings during the show, that money also goes to the cause.

Last November, at a series of shows at the Catherine Hickman Theater, they were able to raise enough money to provide 1100 blankets for the homeless. "It made me feel really good, and the last night of our show it got very cold and one of the dancers called to tell me that we just gave out 300 blankets. I just wanted to cry because I was tired from all our hard work and then knowing that our efforts paid off right away," said Clausen.

For the fans who want to keep something to remember them by, the dancers, along with friends and associates, posed for the 2005 Forever Young Naughty Florida Boys calendar, which is available at select retail outlets in the Tampa Bay area. The photography was provided free of charge by friend Marty Condon, and most of the shots were done at his home. The cost is $10 per calendar with all money going to charity. So far, sales of the calendar have raised $2,200. "It makes a great gift. People aren't buying it for the calendar, they are buying it for the fun they can have with it," said Clausen.

Both Jensen (Mr. December) and Clausen (Mr. February) say they never would have dreamed of doing something like this during their retirement, but have found it to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. " We wanted to find a way to stay in shape, have fun and give to charity. It has been very rewarding, " said Jensen.

Although being a performer as well as the director of the Forever Young Dancers take up much of his time and energy, Clausen says it is all worth it. "It's an added success to my life," he said.

FMI: click here or call 727-360-4406. To purchase a calendar send a check or money order for $10 to: Forever Young Dancers calendar 5000 Gulf Blvd, Suite #130 St.Pete Beach, Fl. 33706

COMMUNITY CALENDAR presented by the Tampa Bay Business Guild

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