New York
Company Member since 2019

Felice Zeldin was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Far Rockaway, New York. She was a typical 1960s teenager, with an eye for style and a love for music, especially the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and her high school sweetheart Lloyd Zeldin. Two days after turning 18, she married him in her prom dress and started college. They have been married 57 years, with two sons, one daughter, eight grandchildren, and two dogs. They spent 45 years in Dunedin, Florida, where she worked in real estate before relocating to Compass Pointe in Leland. Her son Andrew, who worked at the New Hanover Senior Resource Center, told her about The Hi- Steppers. She called the director, Annette Crumpton, who welcomed her into the group. Felice didn’t dance as a child, but her grandchildren's dance recitals inspired her to start. After sitting through two hours, a group of ladies performed tap dance, lighting up the room with smiles. That sparked her dance journey. Now, 15 years later, she encourages women to join the Hi-Steppers. Felice loves the camaraderie, laughter, and support, especially from teacher Tina Leak, who has elevated their dancing beyond expectations. The group makes her feel young again in just two hours.

Many people believe that dance has the power to heal both mentally and physically. In March 2025, while attending the Grand Prix race in Florida, Felice fell down the metal grandstand stairs and broke her neck. She underwent surgery to have a metal rod fused into her spine. Felice’s love of dance was essential to her recovery. With support from her loving family, community, doctors, and physical therapy team, she was back in the classroom and dancing with the Hi-Steppers within six months! She and the troupe won Gold Medals at the NC Senior Games / Silver Arts Follies on September 19, 2025.

Since retiring, Felice and her husband have traveled extensively, visiting destinations like Israel, the Amalfi Coast, Greece, Venice, Croatia, the British Isles, and her home state of New York. When not traveling, she enjoys tap dancing, being an extra in films, playing mahjong twice weekly, and participating in Bunco monthly. A social butterfly, she spends time with friends, in clubs, or volunteering in the community. Felice volunteers at Bnai Israel Congregation, serving on the Board of Directors, the Sunshine Committee, and the Education and Outreach Committee for the Jewish Film Festival. She also co-chairs the Membership Committee, serves on the Joy of Art Show & Sale’s Executive Committee, and participates in the Celebration Committee. With her husband Lloyd, she cooks and serves meals at The Good Shepherd and volunteers at Thalian Hall Center of the Performing Arts. She fondly recalls dancing at Thalian Hall with the Hi-Steppers in 2023 and being professionally photographed there in 2025.