3 minute read
ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES®
Stephanie Walsh, 73
70-year olds do not hip-hop dance, at least that is what some people might think. Few would expect to see someone that age dancing on social media sites, and even fewer would expect those videos to go viral, gathering over 11-million views, but that is what happened with Stephanie Walsh. For her, defying expectations is nothing new, as she believes her ability to defy gets better with age.
“I’m living my best life right now,” said Walsh. “I’m going to keep dancing as long as I can.”
Known online as Ms. Stephanie, videos of her fierce dance moves and incredible energy found an enthusiastic audience on Instagram and TikTok to the point where Walsh, 73, has become an internet sensation, but that is not the only way the hip-hopping grandmother is defying expectations.
“It may have been her age at first,” said Ty Gilbert, one of Walsh’s teachers who shares her videos on his TikTok account @FierceFitnessTy. “But for us, it is more the fact that she out-dances the fitness instructors and everyone else in the room.”
Her profile proclaims she is “inspiring the world to dance like no one is watching.” But they are watching, with a fanbase that is rapidly expanding.
“Dance has helped me get through a lot of things in my life,” said Walsh. “I always had that to turn to when I needed a lift.”
Walsh persevered through many hardships. Her mother died in a car accident when she was 5 years old, her daughter was killed at the age of 22, her son survived kidney disease and Walsh was widowed after 25 years of marriage. She has overcome three hip replacements, osteoarthritis in both knees and back surgery but relies on her faith, her friends, and her dancing for her positive attitude.
“Everybody has to have a passion in their life,” she said. “It’s like that saying, ‘A life without passion is a life half lived.’ I believe that.”
Dajah Rene owns the studio where Walsh dances and remembers the moment she first saw her. “I saw a light in Ms. Stephanie that just cannot be dimmed,” said Rene. “It cannot be hidden. It’s a gift that should be shared around the world.”
Rene uploaded dance videos of Walsh who at first was unaware of her popularity. “When they told me I went viral I said, ‘Oh, that’s nice,’ but it is really not the reason I dance.”
Walsh believes she knows why the videos are so popular.
“It’s because I’m a senior,” said Walsh. “You don’t usually see someone my age doing hip hop and moving like that.”
She relishes the opportunity to defy preconceived notions about aging and hopes to use her newfound fame to encourage others to do the same.
“You don’t have to do something big,” said Walsh. “I’ve watched the Growing Bolder TV show and I’ve seen the impressive things that some people do. That’s great, but every one of us can do something on a smaller level, too. Go help somebody or do that thing you’re interested in. We can all do something. It doesn’t have to be big to make a big impact on someone’s life.”
Walsh says there is one lesson she’d like everyone to learn from dance. That is no matter what your interests may be, do it like no one is watching.
