103-year-old Utah man still showing off dance moves

MURRAY, Utah -- A ballroom dancer in Utah definitely knows how to get down and boogie. He's been cutting a rug for close to a century.

Karl Tinggaard is waltzing well into his second century. Two weeks ago he turned 103. Karl was born on Feb. 27, 1914, five months before World War I began.

"I'm just an ordinary man who has had a long wonderful life. I can't remember one year in my life that was not wonderful," he said.

Every Thursday night, you'll find Karl whirling around the floor at the Murray Heritage Center senior dance with a variety of partners, reports KTVX.

"He's a real pistol. He loves the women," said Maureen Gallagher, Murray Heritage Center program coordinator. "It's really something to see because you can't think he's 103 still moving so well."

Karl said he learned these steps as a young boy in Denmark nearly a hundred years ago. He said dancing is easy. He just lets his feet follow the music.

Karl outlived his wife of 55 years and their daughter, plus a couple of his regular dance partners. He tells jokes with the same ease that he foxtrots. For Karl, laughter really is the best medicine.

"For every minute you laugh, you extend your life one hour and I'm laughing a lot," Karl said.

And how long will he keep tearing up the floor?

"Until I fall over. Until I simply can't do it anymore," he said.

Karl is usually the first one to come and the last one to leave the senior dance.