A group of dancers makes a circle during the Mardi Gras celebration at the Bend Senior Center on Tuesday.

Band music, dancing and shiny beads and masks dominated the Bend Senior Center on Tuesday morning, all part of local seniors’ celebration of Mardi Gras.

The event was held in conjunction with the center’s usual dance activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

But Tuesday’s festivities, attended by at least 90 people, also served to help out a Gulf Coast senior center affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year.

The center offered attendees a turkey lunch plate for $2.50. All money collected from the lunch will be sent to the Thibodaux Senior Center in Thibodaux, La., said Brenda Chilcott, program coordinator for the senior center.

The Thibodaux facility, 66 miles southwest of New Orleans, sustained wind and rain damage caused by last year’s hurricanes, said Brent Melancon, an intern for the Bend Senior Center visiting from Thibodaux.

Chilcott said that with their donations, the event attendees also helped fellow seniors in Louisiana, in addition to having fun.

Chilcott also said the celebration let attendees experience revelry Cajun-style. The event was made possible by input from Melancon, thanks to his close ties to the Gulf Coast.

Melancon, a senior majoring in social services at Thibodaux’s Nicholls State University, has an internship with the Bend Senior Center until spring’s end.

In addition to planning the Mardi Gras festival, Melancon also played the mandolin with band members at the celebration. A local band, Alley Cats, provided dancing music, including ”When The Saints Go Marching In,” for the celebration.

”I had fun. It was a good time,” Melancon said.

The band music kept seven to 10 couples dancing on the floor during songs. Some of the attendees said dancing was therapeutic and helped keep people young.

Peggy Winchell and her husband, Charlie, wearing matching white hats with red and blue trim, danced throughout much of the event. Winchell said dancing ”keeps everything working,” like exercise.

Ivy McEuen said dancing helps people stay young, especially men.

”That’s because I dance,” she said when told she looked younger than her 85 years.

Just before noon, a king and queen of the Mardi Gras celebration were announced. The winners’ names were drawn from papers in separate cans for the king and queen. The crowning of royalty is a tradition of most Mardi Gras events.

McEuen’s husband, Jim, won the king’s purple crown. ”It’s an honor,” he said.

Rosabelle Root was crowned the queen, but quickly pointed out that she received only a title with her matching purple crown.

One of the guests at Root’s table asked her if she got a palace with her title.

”No,” she replied. ”They didn’t even send me to New Orleans.”