EVANSTON (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — For some, Thursday night’s basketball game between Northwestern and Michigan is all about the Big Dance.
Not the NCAA tournament. Rather, the Big Dance refers to the game’s halftime entertainment, when residents from Merion Senior Living in Evanston will perform under the direction of Northwestern cheerleaders.
“We have a ball, and the audience loves us,” said Luba, a Merion resident in her fifth year of performing. “If we make a little misstep here or there, nobody cares and nobody notices.”
On Wednesday, the troupe was busy counting out steps and shaking their purple and white pom poms to a Beyoncé song during a practice in their conference room at the Merion.
Although some of the women at the conference room were first-timers, 83-year-old Leigh Bailey had last year’s performance under her belt.
“We have a completely different routine,” Bailey said. “We march out, we do our little things here, but then it’s over. One minute of glory.”
Northwestern sophomore Ashley Brobbey returned to help this year’s squad get ready for their moment in the spotlight and said it’s been great getting to know the women, who range in age from 70 to 89.
“When they got to perform on the actual court, they were so happy, so excited, so proud of themselves,” Brobbey said. “So, I needed to come back this year to see it all over again.”
Suzy, who just turned 80 on Monday, said she’s a little nervous about performing in front of thousands of fans but is looking forward to it.
“Oh, I don’t know, I like a challenge,” she said. “One of my daughters was a cheerleader, and I always wanted to get up there and do something.”
The group included some Northwestern alums, such as 88-year-old Lila Freedman, who proudly wore a purple sweatshirt reading “Never underestimate the power of an old woman who graduated from NU.”
“No, I was never a cheerleader,” Freedman said. “I mean I cheered, but I didn’t cheerlead.”
They’ve been practicing for weeks for their halftime show. At the very least, it’ll provide the latest excuse to get together and have fun
“Look at this group,” Bailey said. “It’s such a hoot.”
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