Dancing the key to couple’s 70-year marriage

Anthony Santoro and wife June dance up a storm (ABC2)Couples that dance together, stay together.

Anthony “Drapey” Santoro and his wife June have found the secret to a long and happy marriage. They credit dancing as the thing that has “[kept them] going” after 70 years of marriage and are still as much in love today as the day they were married.

Check out the happy couple dancing up a stormhere.

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The dancing duo, who married on April 19, 1942, are celebrating their platinum anniversary this year and are as happy as the day they met when they were just 16 and 15-years-old, respectively.

Speaking to ABC2 News, Drapey, a World War II veteran who served in Europe and will be celebrating his 90^th birthday later this year, said, “It gets better as the years go by.” Later adding, “I probably love her more now than when I met her.”

The Parkville, Maryland, couple revealed to ABC2 News that they make time to dance five times a week for four hours a night and enjoy dancing at local restaurants with live music. The pair have even competed in an ABC2 local news version of “Dancing with the Stars,” which they won and were qualified to compete in the finals held in California.

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Earlier this year, Statistics Canada revealed that even though Canada’s divorce rate is on the decline, it was estimated that in 2008, 41 per cent of marriages would end in divorce before before 30 years of marriage, which was an increase of 36 per cent in 1998.

For couples who find themselves in a rut, dancing might be the antidote as it has many romantic benefits.

The Arthur Murray Dance Studio believes that “new excitement” can be found on the dance floor for couples and can introduce new feelings and desires into a relationship. “It’s a ‘shot in the arm,’” the studio writes on its website. “It encourages the spark of romance for stressed out, tension-plagued people. It’s great for keeping a marriage interesting and long lasting.”

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So, if you are looking to spice up your relationship, why not take a cue from Drapey and June? After all, the couple have five children, 13 grandchildren, and two great granddaughters and still find time to bust a move 20 hours a week!