Meet the NYC dance troupe proving age is just a number—with plenty of sass to spare
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The rhythm never fades—it only changes tempo, flowing through each movement like a heartbeat that never stops.
For these New Yorkers, every step, spin, and shimmy proves that time may age the body, but it can’t dull the spirit.
Behind each sparkle and twirl lies a truth that joy never retires, and self-expression knows no expiration.
In a mirrored dance studio in New York City, the Pacemakers—a dance troupe made entirely of performers aged 60 and older—are turning stereotypes upside down.
Among them is 78-year-old Phyllis Bogart, who moves with electricity despite four hip replacements and a mechanical knee.
Known affectionately as the “bionic babe,” she brings the same energy to rehearsals that she once poured into her career as a nurse and pharmaceutical rep. “I’m older,” Bogart said. “But I’m also vital. I’m exciting. I’m active. I’m alive—and I’m not invisible.”
The Pacemakers were born out of defiance after founder Susan Avery, once the oldest dancer for the Brooklyn Cyclones, was mocked online for her age.
Instead of backing down, Avery placed an ad calling for senior dancers, and sixteen brave souls answered, forming the troupe in 2019.
Their debut performance earned a standing ovation—and their calendar has been packed ever since. “We are old, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we’re fun, we’re powerful, we’re sexy,” Avery said.
Now seven seasons strong, the Pacemakers have grown to 47 members and perform across the Northeast, dazzling crowds at sporting events, festivals, and community centers.
Their routines have gone viral online, earning millions of views and an international following. Members come from all walks of life—teachers, police officers, healthcare workers, even a lawyer-turned-library worker who writes erotica on the side.
Also read: Winter activity ideas to help seniors stay fit and energized
Each member proudly wears their birth year on their jersey, proving that confidence doesn’t fade with age. For the dancers, performing is more than entertainment it’s a way to stay sharp, healthy, and connected.
Studies have shown that learning choreography strengthens memory, focus, and coordination while helping slow cognitive decline.
“I never thought at this age that I would be involved in something so exciting, so energizing, so fun and so challenging to my body and my brain,” Bogart said.
Others, like twin sisters Star and Sparkle Lee, see dance as both a workout and worship, leading praise dances at church when they’re not performing under the spotlight.
Source: peacemakerdanceteam / TikTok
When illness or hardship strikes, the Pacemakers turn compassion into choreography. Dance captain Joanne Wolfring, who recovered from lung surgery, founded the Sunshine Club to send flowers, meals, and love to members in need.
Teammate Serena Kindler found strength dancing through ovarian cancer treatment, saying, “It’s a huge part of my life, and to be able to come back and celebrate life through dance and through joy and through friendships, it’s given me strength.”
Even through pain, every shuffle and sway becomes an act of healing. At auditions this year, more than 100 hopefuls vied for 12 coveted spots, some dancing formally for the first time in their lives.
Also read: A new kind of home care is giving these seniors a reason to smile—what you need to know
Among the new recruits was 70-year-old Harlem artist Gerald Timberlake, who said, “I embrace every morning I wake up. I just wanted to do something different with my life.”
That sentiment echoes through every performance—a shared belief that aging isn’t the end of expression but the start of something bolder. As Bogart said, “You have to find your niche, your outlet. You can do whatever you want to do.”
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The Pacemakers prove that rhythm has no retirement age and that joy can be as fierce at 80 as it was at 20. Their story isn’t just about dance—it’s about refusing to fade quietly when life still has music left to play. Each performance is a declaration that living boldly never gets old. What do you think—could you see yourself taking the stage no matter your age?
For these New Yorkers, every step, spin, and shimmy proves that time may age the body, but it can’t dull the spirit.
Behind each sparkle and twirl lies a truth that joy never retires, and self-expression knows no expiration.
In a mirrored dance studio in New York City, the Pacemakers—a dance troupe made entirely of performers aged 60 and older—are turning stereotypes upside down.
Among them is 78-year-old Phyllis Bogart, who moves with electricity despite four hip replacements and a mechanical knee.
Known affectionately as the “bionic babe,” she brings the same energy to rehearsals that she once poured into her career as a nurse and pharmaceutical rep. “I’m older,” Bogart said. “But I’m also vital. I’m exciting. I’m active. I’m alive—and I’m not invisible.”
The Pacemakers were born out of defiance after founder Susan Avery, once the oldest dancer for the Brooklyn Cyclones, was mocked online for her age.
Meet the NYC dance troupe proving age is just a number—with plenty of sass to spare. Image source: peacemakersdanceteam / TikTok
Instead of backing down, Avery placed an ad calling for senior dancers, and sixteen brave souls answered, forming the troupe in 2019.
Their debut performance earned a standing ovation—and their calendar has been packed ever since. “We are old, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we’re fun, we’re powerful, we’re sexy,” Avery said.
Now seven seasons strong, the Pacemakers have grown to 47 members and perform across the Northeast, dazzling crowds at sporting events, festivals, and community centers.
Their routines have gone viral online, earning millions of views and an international following. Members come from all walks of life—teachers, police officers, healthcare workers, even a lawyer-turned-library worker who writes erotica on the side.
Also read: Winter activity ideas to help seniors stay fit and energized
Each member proudly wears their birth year on their jersey, proving that confidence doesn’t fade with age. For the dancers, performing is more than entertainment it’s a way to stay sharp, healthy, and connected.
Studies have shown that learning choreography strengthens memory, focus, and coordination while helping slow cognitive decline.
“I never thought at this age that I would be involved in something so exciting, so energizing, so fun and so challenging to my body and my brain,” Bogart said.
Others, like twin sisters Star and Sparkle Lee, see dance as both a workout and worship, leading praise dances at church when they’re not performing under the spotlight.
Source: peacemakerdanceteam / TikTok
When illness or hardship strikes, the Pacemakers turn compassion into choreography. Dance captain Joanne Wolfring, who recovered from lung surgery, founded the Sunshine Club to send flowers, meals, and love to members in need.
Teammate Serena Kindler found strength dancing through ovarian cancer treatment, saying, “It’s a huge part of my life, and to be able to come back and celebrate life through dance and through joy and through friendships, it’s given me strength.”
Even through pain, every shuffle and sway becomes an act of healing. At auditions this year, more than 100 hopefuls vied for 12 coveted spots, some dancing formally for the first time in their lives.
Also read: A new kind of home care is giving these seniors a reason to smile—what you need to know
Among the new recruits was 70-year-old Harlem artist Gerald Timberlake, who said, “I embrace every morning I wake up. I just wanted to do something different with my life.”
That sentiment echoes through every performance—a shared belief that aging isn’t the end of expression but the start of something bolder. As Bogart said, “You have to find your niche, your outlet. You can do whatever you want to do.”
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