Who says dancing is only for the young? Dancing is for the young at heart at the Leonardo Da Vinci Center every Saturday and Sunday from September to June.

On November 11, 2013, I met Antonietta Morgante better known as DJ Nonna at the Leonardo Da Vinci Center in St. Leonard. I sat down with her to learn more about her and her job as a DJ. She told me she has been doing this job for fifteen years but only nine years at the Leonardo Da Vinci Center.

After 25 years of marriage and being a housewife, destiny led her on a musical path. Her fascinating story began when she joined forces with her brother, being a disc jockey at a local church. Then her brother decided to quit the business and taught her the trade that became her new career in her golden years.

Born in Sicily, Antonietta is a Montrealer at heart since she’s been here for 55 years. She grew up in St. Michel, speaking French and helping at her father’s pastry shop. Although she’s now grandmother to an 18-month-old girl she doesn’t like to stay at home. At 65 years young, she likes staying active by helping at the LDV Center, doing charity work, and doing gigs.

Being a DJ is only a part-time job. She does private parties and her regular weekend gig at the LDV Center. She gave me a tour of the center and showed me the lounge where she keeps her turntable, speakers, and equipment. Every year she organizes the Halloween party for seniors at the center where she also disc jockeys at the Christmas party.

Antonietta shared that most of the attendees are regulars and they range from 50 to 90 years old, but anybody is welcome to join in. She plays all types of music; French, Italian, Latin, Middle Eastern, Oldies, and Rock n’ Roll.

When I asked her how she had acquired her quirky moniker, she said, “A lot of the young kids that work part-time at the center see me as old. One day, one of them said, I’m going to call you DJ Nonna because for us, you’re like a grandmother.” Although at the time she got her nickname, Antonietta was not yet a grandmother, the kids at the LDV center saw her as one, and that’s how she became DJ Nonna, Italian for the grandmother disc jockey.

When Antonietta is not playing music for the seniors at the center, she is busy doing charity work in the community. She shared with me that she loves helping people because that’s the only way she can help out. “I’m not rich, you know”, she added. “That’s why I like to help.”

Her children joke with her and tell her that she should move to the LDV center because she spends a great deal of time there. “I love doing this”, she said. Bringing music to the seniors of St. Leonard brightens their days in the long cold winter nights of Montreal. Attendees always tell her, “Your music is the best.”

So to all the seniors out there, put on your boogie shoes and come dance the night away with DJ Nonna every Saturday and Sunday from 6;30 to 11;00 PM at the Leonardo Da Vinci Center located at 8370 Lacordaire, Montreal, QC H1R 3Y6

About the Author;

Claudia Del Balso is a writer, editor, translator, and blogger. She has published ten short stories, including one that won Award of Excellence with the Poetry Institute of Canada. She also provides helpful tips to aspiring and emerging writers on her blog at; www.claudiadelbalso.blogspot.ca