Sedalia Retirement Community gains internet fame for Kansas City Chief’s cheer routine
SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Members of the "Primrose Cheerleaders," more famously known as the "Senior Swifties" of Primrose Retirement Community did not expect their cheer routine to take the internet by storm.
The group first caught viral attention when Connie Chevalier, activities director at Primrose, shared a video of the Senior Swifties doing their "Swag Surfin'" cheer routine to her Facebook page ahead of the divisional round against the Buffalo Bills back in January. That video now has over 115,000 views on Facebook alone.
They have even gotten the attention of USA Today, People Magazine, US Weekly and more.
"We did not even know what viral means," said Chevalier. "We found out that we were viral because somebody put it on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter and it just went everywhere."
Music and dancing aren't uncommon at Primrose. The community holds Zumba classes every morning, and each year during football season they dance to Chief's songs.
"I saw them actually doing a sideline dance...the Chief's doing sideline dancing, zoomed up to the skybox, and Taylor [Swift] was doing it. So I Googled it and it was "Swag Surfin'". So I was like, 'yeah, we're going to do that.' So I downloaded the song and came in and taught my residents that dance and it went viral," Chevalier told ABC 17.
As the Chiefs head into Super Bowl XVIII, Chevalier rounded up all the residents who wanted to participate to teach them a new routine to end the season.
"We wanted to make sure that all of our residents got involved. So, the residents made the signs, and then we brought some pom-poms in so that we could get all of our residents involved in it," said Chevalier.
"The more that we can do to enhance our residents lives, that's what we work for and strive for, she continued. "To make sure that they're still living and enjoying every second of every minute of their day.”
“I have to say I enjoy it because it's all of us, it isn't just one person. It's everyone. And it's just a fun thing for seniors to do,“ said Primrose resident Lory Moxter.
Just like in the NFL, practices are not easy. Moxter said they had practices throughout the week and a dress rehearsal Wednesday, where they practiced the routine about three to four times.
I'm 75 and I'm the youngest one here, and these ladies put me to shame. I mean, they are just so full of energy," said resident Sherry Goupil.
“They take it very seriously. So, you know, we have to say, okay, you've got to start over. Let's do this," said Chevalier. "I think it's really cute how how they are inspired to do it right. Or to the best of their abilities.”
Their desire to do their best even caused some to put other obligations on the back burner.
"Yesterday was my birthday and we had plans to go out. My mom was going to bake a cake," said Goupil's daughter, Angela Spatz
"And then my mom called me Wednesday afternoon and said, I'm sorry, practice has changed and I can't make your birthday, there's no time for it. And I said, 'What are you talking about?' She said, 'I'm sorry. I have I have practice.' So my mom missed my birthday to shake pompoms at 75 years old,” Spatz said.
The group unveiled a culmination of all their Chief's routines from this season with the addition of a new one ahead of the Super Bowl on Thursday.
The squad sported Chief's gear as they sat in 3 rows in a red, gold, and football-decorated room to do their routine. Some were seen in their costumes from past routines.
The groups' viral fame even reconnected old friends.
"I couldn't believe it. I'm here And my friends where I was born, in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, were calling me and I haven't heard from them in 40 years,” said 91-year-old Moxter.
