>> We're finally here at the Wizdom dance team auditions.
First five.
The biggest fear is just the unknown.
Are these people entertaining to watch?
Do they have fun personalities?
>> I'm nervous.
>> Can they move?
>> This is harder than we thought.
>> Definitely, yes/no.
We've got a lot of people.
>> I had to step up my game to try and make this team.
[Wizdom Dance Team] [Road to Wizdom]
♪ music playing ♪ [Wizdom Dance Team Auditions, Washington, D.C.]
♪ music playing ♪
>> We just finished learning the choreography, and they're
about to be judged.
What I'm looking for for these auditions today is people,
obviously, who can dance.
They don't have to be perfect, but who are entertainers.
>> Chris: It's going well. I'm learning most of the moves.
I'm feeling comfortable.
I think I may have a chance.
>> Wanda: I think there's going to be tough competition.
But I think I can do my best to hold my own.
>> I think the challenge for them is just getting over
their nerves and really coming out of their shell.
>> Anna: I'm just trying to keep myself calm and go through
the steps.
>> Showmanship, I think, is the biggest thing we're looking for.
The showmanship, the personality, the energy.
They're going to come up, say their name and just kind of
just tell us why they want to be a Wizdom dancer.
For this group, with it being the first year,
it's definitely yes/no.
We've got a lot of people and we're definitely going to have
to make a lot of cuts.
So, just write yes or no and any notes that you have.
Anybody got questions?
Let's go, let's do it!
♪ if you get it, get it, if you really want it ♪
(cheering)
♪ you do what you've got to do you can come to life ♪♪
>> Cindy: I feel a little bit anxious when I'm looking
at the judges.
There's nothing but pure fear. So I'm really not really
looking at them, I'm pretending I'm looking at them.
>> All right, go ahead and tell us why you want to become
a member of the Wizdom dance team.
>> I'm here because, like, when I hear music, it is like a drug.
>> Theresa: I am here because I'm going to show that at 64
I can still freaking dance, and I'm a breast cancer
survivor and I want to rock it!
(cheering)
>> Olga: As my grandson would say, it will look good on my résumé.
(laughing)
>> Wanda: I'm here because I'm on a life discovery,
of myself.
I just retired from Prince George’s County schools.
So, I'm about doing anything new and exciting.
>> Chris: I'm here because I love to dance,
I love the energy, I love seeing people smile.
>> Good luck, everyone.
Have fun. Do your best.
♪ come to life, come to life,
♪ come to life ♪♪ >> Woo!
>> Amazing, amazing job.
>> Today at the audition, we have some of my current dancers’
grandmothers and aunts.
One of my dancers’ mom is actually trying out,
so that's amazing that we potentially could have a
daughter who is a Wizards dancer and a mother who is a Wizdom.
>> Taunya: I've always wanted to be a dancer. Now that
I'm 50 and my kids are older, it's time for me to channel
my inner Beyonce.
♪ keep dreaming out loud, I take what I need ♪♪
>> We also have some former Bullettes dance team members.
We have former professional dancers.
>> Anna: I was a Bullette back in the day.
(cheering)
>> Diane: I was on the original Bullettes team.
>> Dreana: Bullette.
>> Kristina: Bullettes.
>> Jeanne: Former Washington Redskins cheerleader.
>> Pam: Redskins cheerleader.
>> Janet: I'm a former Washington Redskins cheerleader.
Actually, I'm a professional bodybuilder and I am 57 years old.
>> She's 57? Her body is bangin’.
♪ music playing ♪
♪ dreaming mad ♪♪
♪ music playing ♪
>> Laveta: It would just mean the world to me to be back on
a squad, because I still, in my head, am a dancer.
>> They are killing it.
(cheering)
>> Auditions are going amazing. I'm really shocked at the level
of talent that is here today.
These people are making it so difficult for us to make this decision.
I have, like, so many yeses. This is so difficult.
They're having fun. They're showing us everything
that we want to see.
Personality, energy. They're really good picking up
the steps. (yelling) All right!
>> How are you feeling?
>> Sharon: Excited, anxious and hoping that they see something
in me,
and selecting me today.
♪ music playing ♪
>> I like 652!
♪ music playing ♪
>> I love 668.
Yes. ♪ music playing ♪
(yelling) Oh!
I knew it! I knew it!
Somebody was going to give it to me.
The Wizdom dance team is going to add to our fan experience
by just giving them something different to watch.
I think, because this team is going to be composed of
individuals who are 50 and over,
it's relatable to other fans that don't relate to the
dancers or don't relate to the kids’ team.
It just shows that we have entertainers from age 6
all the way to whoever knows how old our oldest Wizdom
dance team person is going to be.
>> Lenora: I'm inspired by my grandsons.
I want them to say, “You go, Nana!”
>> (yelling) Hey!
Amazing job, everybody!
(cheering)
That was the most fun I have ever had on my job,
in my whole career.
Y'all were awesome!
>> Pam: The audition went great. I had a wonderful time.
Met some new friends.
>> So, I know we have this, I know we said 15 people,
but we need 40.
How can we make this work?
>> How hard is this decision going to be?
>> It's going to be ...
>> Uh, it's tough. I have, literally, like five
noes and all the rest are yeses and maybes, so it's going to
be tough.
But even just by showing up, I think they've achieved
their goals.
Whatever they had, whatever personal troubles they had
going on, they achieved that just by coming
today and showing up and having the courage.
Oh, my God, I'm about to cry.
I think what was tugging at my heartstrings at the judges’
wrap-up was just, you would think people would
come here for selfish reasons, for the glitz and the glamour,
and it was not that at all.
There were so many deep-rooted feelings as to why people
wanted to do this, and that, that's what I think was the
most amazing part about it.
>> Dottye: It was just awesome to see so many people doing
what they want to do at this stage in their lives, and still
have years and years more left to go.
>> We will send emails out and letters out to those who made
it and those who didn't in the next couple of days.
I think the challenges that lay
ahead for me is picking a team.
Now it's time to get nitty and gritty because we can't take
everyone.
>> If I don't make the team, I'll be disappointed.
But I understand there was a lot of great, talented people here.
>> I put my best out there, and that's all anyone can ever do.
>> If I don't make it, I'll be back next year.
>> So, we've got the talent, and we've seen them do the
choreography, they all were amazing, but we've got to make some cuts.
>> Next time on “Road to Wizdom”:
>> There was so much talent, but we only have a select
number of spots.
So, I've got to cut half of these people.
Good Lord.
>> No to 682.
>> Really?
If they don't cut the mustard, they may not make it.
That was an amazing audition
and I have no idea how we're going to cut this down
to 15 people.
This is definitely the hard part.
Be sure to subscribe to AARP's YouTube channel
so you can see who makes the cut.
Do it now! Like, right now!