Moves for Seniors Blog

Back in 1979, a group of women came together to cheer for the Sun City Saints women’s softball team in Arizona. Thirty-six years later, those women are still performing with the same enthusiasm and energy they had in the ‘70s. They’re the Sun City Poms, a cheerleading squad made up entirely of senior women.

According to The Gloss, the Sun City Poms still perform approximately fifty shows every year, frequenting parades and pep rallies. They’re active, to say the least. “More than entertainers,” the Sun City Poms “represent the fulfillment of life at any age” – and they have a blast doing it. They only have two requirements for membership: you’ve got to have rhythm, and you absolutely have to be over age 55.

“It gives me confidence and makes me feel young,” 77-year-old Sun City Pom Shirly Hoffman told TODAY. Hoffman and the rest of the squad practice three times every week, executing high-flexibility moves like splits and high kicks. Needless to say, skills in acrobatics and showmanship are the Sun City Poms standard.

But the Sun City Poms aren’t the only senior cheerleading squad out there. They’ve got some competition.

Enter the Durham Senior Divas ‘N Dudes, seven-time North Carolina Senior Games champions. The squad’s award-winning human pyramid won them their first gold medal in 2006, and again in 2014. The Divas ‘N Dudes have sung national anthems at baseball games, carried torches for local senior games, performed at local North Carolina colleges and universities and even made a guest appearance on local television.

“You don’t stop playing because you grow old,” said squad captain and longtime member Dr. Louise Gooche, who’s known for her signature split move. “You grow old when you stop playing!”

Just make sure you stretch out before attempting to mimic Dr. Gooche’s signature split.