What typically comes to mind at the mention of a sports dance team are groups of competitive dancers who are young, have toned bodies, model looks and high level dance and acrobatic skills. With high profile national dance teams like the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, the Miami Heat dancers, the New York Nick girls and arguable the most popular of them all, the Los Angeles Lakers, raising the bar for what it takes to make the cut, many wouldn’t expect to find senior citizens in this grouping.

Since youthful looks and vitality are seen as more than just an asset, but most often a pre-requisite in the entertainment world, auditions for the most coveted roles typically go to the most youthful, vivacious/and physically appealing contenders. One group not largely represented in this field are older performers, which makes it all the more incredible that there is in fact a group of performers currently dancing for the National Basketball Association who just happen to each be over 60 years of age. They might not be spring chickens, but boy can they move!
They are known as the Golden Oldies, and as the name eludes, are seniors and just so happen to be an extended part of the Miami Heat’s dance squad. The popular NBA team held auditions earlier this year in search of their golden team. Just like any other dance-cheer squad, these guys and gals were put to the test from having to perform a solo freestyle dance that displayed their personalities, as well as expected to learn and perform a choreographed group number in order to make the final cut to be part of the highly competitive team.
Although the Golden Oldies crew could easily be the grandparents of many of the players, along with those on the younger squad, that doesn’t stop them from bringing the house down with the same energy and excitement as their junior counterparts. The golden group, who perform at Miami’s American Airline arena during the Heat’s home games, are a huge hit with basketball fans as they show the world how dance can help one age gracefully and that age is nothing but a number.
With every twist and turn these grooving grannies shimmy and shake their way into the hearts of millions,
inspiring audiences to keep on moving and to never give up no matter what your age may be.