Little did they know when they answered an ad in a local newspaper seeking women to be senior cheerleaders for a now defunct NBA development team that a group of local gals would become an organized dance troupe that performs all over Lee County at community events raising money for the Paws for Patriots charity.

The Calendar Girls are a non-profit dance team that is made up of 17 women who are all 50 years of age and older. The oldest member is 70 years old.

“After the (NBA development) team folded, we decided we wanted stay together and carry on,” said Katherine Shortlidge, program coordinator for the Calendar Girls. “We love to serve the community and we love to support our charity.”

The Paws for Patriots charity is under the Southeastern Guide Dogs charity umbrella, which helps secure funds to raise puppies to be working guide dogs for soldiers blinded in battle.

“I think we are all at an age which makes us very patriotic,” said Shortlidge. “Most of us have had a father who was in World War II or a brother who was in Vietnam, and we love the idea of giving back to someone who served his country to fight for our freedom.”

Shortlidge said it takes about $40,000 to raise the puppies from start to finish to be working dogs, and the process takes about 3-4 years.

“It is a very involved process and we want to contribute as much as we can to this cause,” she said.

According to Shortlidge, since the dance group’s inception in 2005, the group has raise — from donations — approximately $10,000. The groups does not charge to perform at events around the area but instead suggests donations in any amount either be given to the group, which is then donated to the Paws for Patriots charity, or directly to the charity itself.

The dancers average about 100 shows throughout the calendar year and some of the types of events/locations the group performs at include biker rallies, nursing homes, country club shows and private functions.

“The variety of events we have performed at is never-ending,” said Shortlidge. “Some other events we have performed at are the Cape Coral block party, Harbour Marina, Great American Picnic and the Florida Repertory Theatre. At the theatre we were auctioned off to dance at another function.”

The group is holding open auditions for new members, which they do once a year. The auditions will be held this Sunday, April 6, from 1:30 -4 p.m., at the Omni Gym in Fort Myers.

“We welcome anyone to come and audition but we want people to realize this is a huge time commitment,” said Shortlidge.

The Calendar Girls meet twice a week at the Omni Gym for a combined five hours of practice on their routine. They also perform on an average of about two jobs per week, which averages out with travel time to another five hours per week.

“It is about a 10 hour per week time commitment,” said Shortlidge. “That is a lot especially if you are working a 40-hour work week as most of our group members do.”

The Calendar Girls have about 20 different choreographed dance routines of which Shortlidge said they can tailor to meet a function’s needs. For instance, she said if someone wants a specific song, they could arrange there routine to go along with that song. At each performance, they perform approximately six songs, which averages out to about a 30-minute performance.

Although they can tailor routine to anyone’s musical selections, Shortlidge said they do have a their own songs they can dance to as well. Musical genres they have include Broadway classics, country, classic rock and, of course, patriotic songs.

“A crowd favorite is the song ‘One’ from the Singular Sensation from a Chorus Line,” she added. “We performed at the Shrimp Festival down on Fort Myers Beach and we danced to the song ‘Hey Baby.'”

That performance garnered the dance team the winning award in the Shrimp Festival’s dance competition.

“Everyone loves that song,” she said. “The whole crowd sings along to it. It’s the number one stadium song in the world. You can even go to Germany or Italy and people will know that song.”

Shortlidge said when the group is selecting its songs, they try to pick out songs that crowds will recognize of that will invoke a good memory and put a smile on their face.

“We also do a routine to Jessica Simpson’s ‘These Boots are Made for Walking,'” she said. “And we are also working with a local impersonator, Frank Torino’ on Elvis’ ‘Hound Dog.'”

In addition to tailoring songs for events, the dance troupe also can tailor its costumes for themed events.

“We have so many different costumes,” said Shortlidge. “We have shorts with fishnet stockings, or togas, and we have even been pirates before.”

The group’s next two performances are scheduled for April 12 and April 20.

On April 12, the group will perform for the Special Operations Biker Group, which will help raise money for special forces veterans such as Green Berets and Navy Seals.

On April 20, the Calendar Girls will partner with Mike and Wendy Erion, owners of the Paradise Tiki Bar, and ever popular local singing group, The Del Prados.

“At this event, the Paws For Patriots puppy raisers will be there with some of the dogs and people can meet them. There maybe as many as 15 puppies there,” said Shortlidge.

The event will go from 4-7 p.m. and will be held the Paradise Tiki Hut. There is no admission fee, however donations are happily accepted. A 50/50 raffle will also be held.

Shortlidge said residents and visitors should come to the event to see what the girls are all about.

“We are pretty amazing,” she said. “We all work so hard. We also support an amazing charity and that makes all of the hard work worth it.”

For more information on the group, the Paws For Patriots charity, or to book the Calendar Girls at your next local event, visit the Web site www.calendargirlsflorida.com.



Upcoming Events

What: Open Auditions

When: Sunday, April 6, 1:30-4 p.m.

Where: Omni Gym in Fort Myers



What: Special Operations Biker Group performance

When: Saturday, April 12

Benefit : Special forces veterans such as Green Berets and Navy Seals



What: Paws of Patriots fund raiser

When: Sunday, April 20, 4-7 p.m.

Where: Paradise Tiki Bar



For more information or to book the Calendar Girls

visit their Web site:

www.calendargirlsflorida.com