After Jean Dixon Elliott first underwent knee surgery nine years ago, her primary concern was possibly having her leg amputated. Her second was not being able to teach children how to dance anymore, something she had done her entire professional life.

Needing to rehabilitate and not wanting to discontinue her lifelong passion, Elliott, 57 at the time, decided to start a dance exercise program for older women. When a local church invited Elliott and her original 16 students to perform, Jean’s Golden Girls was born.

Now Elliott has more than 100 ladies, ages 50-90, in the troupe, and the Golden Girls have become a halftime sensation at college and professional basketball games around the country.

‘People hear about us and don’t think we’re going to be very good,’ Elliott said. ‘Then they see the ladies and realize they are excellent dancers and it’s a lot of fun.’

Based out of the Salt Lake City area, the Golden Girls have come a long way from that little church. Since then, the girls have performed in NBA and college arenas first in Utah, then on the West Coast and eventually as far east as Miami.

They perform to mostly country western music adorned in cowgirl hats but also have jazz and hip-hop routines, popular with crowds of all ages.

Younger spectators are sometimes the most enthusiastic audiences for the Golden Girls. While the troupe has gotten other elderly women off their rocking chairs, it has also shown the college cheerleaders that their dancing careers don’t have to end after graduation.

That’s not to say young men aren’t excited when the Golden Girls walk on stage. The ladies perform to standing ovations every night, but none louder that at a college arena filled with male students.

‘The colleges are the most exhilarating because the college boys, the guys, love us,’ Miller said. ‘It’s because they can’t imagine their grandmas could go out there and do what we do.’

Elliott does not publicly advertise the group, but she has not had any problem finding interested women. The Golden Girls have grown only by word-of-mouth. Potential dancers often see the group perform then wonder how to get involved themselves.

‘As a young girl I always wanted to be a star and get discovered,’ said Linda Miller, one of the dancers. ‘Then I discovered Jean’s Golden Girls and I’m kind of a star in the eyes of my family.’

Despite not having any prior dancing experience, Miller does not feel out of place with the Golden Girls. Women with formal dance training are discouraged from joining the group, and current and former dance teachers are prohibited. Elliott looks for a variety of people she can teach herself, her way.

Women from all backgrounds have showed up to dance. Age and physical disability are not handicaps – widows, great-grandmothers and even cancer survivors have danced with the Golden Girls. And Elliott realizes just how important dancing has become for all of them.

‘This has kept these ladies alive,’ Elliott said. ‘It keeps them healthy, happy. They’ve made so many friends and it’s become part of their lives. It’s just kept them alive.’

Jane Petty, 90, would agree with that. Petty is the oldest member of the Golden Girls and probably the most beloved. Toward the end of the routine, Petty comes out for her solo: high kicks above her head before one of the mascots carries her off the floor.

Petty was skeptical when she first heard about the Golden Girls from a neighbor nine years ago. She was afraid to tell Elliott how old she was in fear of not being allowed to participate.

But her age was not a problem, and Petty has embraced the role of the oldest Golden Girl and has grown to realize how important she is to those who see her perform.

‘We get a lot of letters from people all over who say I am an inspiration to them because they think that when they’re older they have to sit in front of the TV all day,’ Petty said. ‘Now they know they can go out there and do things they never thought they can do.’

Jean’s Golden Girls continue to boom in popularity. Different venues and organizations call Elliott to book shows almost every night. After performing at Southern Utah University on Saturday, the ladies will be back in action tomorrow night at the Utah Jazz game.

Despite all of its success and popularity, Elliott did not start the group to become famous. She wanted to give older women an outlet seldom offered at that point in their life.

‘It’s a wonderful thing,’ Elliott said. ‘It gives them hope for life.’

Bradley at CreightonWednesday, Jan. 31, 8:35 p.m.

Creighton shares the Missouri Valley Conference lead with Southern Illinois, although the Bluejays have been a disappointment this year. Creighton started the season at No. 19 but has been out of the rankings since week three. Bradley, however, is in the middle of the pack in the MVC.

Creighton 85, Bradley 70

No. 18 Washington State at No. 20 ArizonaThursday, Feb. 1, 8:30 p.m.

Though Washington State is coming off an overtime loss to Oregon, it is proving to be a force in the Pac-10. Arizona, though, is due for a big win after losing five of its last seven games.

Arizona 75, Washington State 72

No. 9 Oregon at No. 5 UCLAThursday, Feb. 1, 10:30 p.m.

These teams sit atop the Pac-10 together at 7-2. The Ducks beat the Bruins back on Jan. 6, in Eugene, but only by two points. UCLA will be hungry, and has home-court this time.

UCLA 80, Oregon 79

No. 10 Texas A&M at No. 6 KansasSaturday, Feb. 3, 9 p.m. ESPN

These teams share the Big 12 lead (along with Texas) at 5-1. The Aggies have only beaten one ranked team and played a light non-conference schedule. Texas A&M is still a question mark. Meanwhile, the baby Jayhawks recently beat Colorado and Baylor by a combined 49 points.

Kansas 76, Texas A&M 63

DePaul at SyracuseSaturday, Feb. 3, 4 p.m. ESPN Full Court

DePaul is near the bottom of a mediocre Big East, but Syracuse has demonstrated just how inconsistent it can be during the last couple of weeks. By the time the Orange reaches Saturday it may be too late, but SU knows it’s playing for its tournament life.

Syracuse 68, DePaul 64

Published on January 28, 2007 at 12:00 pm