Sequins, Sisterhood, and Second Chances: Meet Golden Gals MKE!
MILWAUKEE, WI (CBS 58) -- Golden Gals MKE are dancing for a cause and dazzling while they do it. The group brings joy, purpose and a whole lot of sequins to the cream city.
It all began with the President of the Golden Gals MKE, Patricia D'Acquisto.
"Six girls got together, and we all were talking, and we wanted to give back to the community so we started the group so there are four founders right now and there is a board of 5. We just wanted to give back to the community, so we started the group. We go to a lot of facilities, and we dance for them. Any money that we raise we pick a charity every year. Last year, it was Street Angels and this year it is going to be for alopecia, said D'Acquisto.
You have to be at least 50 to join the group. The Golden Gals MKE is made up of women from their 50's into their 70's.
Colleen Minisce is the woman who keeps those decades of dancers in sync.
"I'm the Vice President; also, Director of Performance and I create all our social media content! When we first come into practice, we do a warmup to get our heart rates up a little bit. Then we get into practicing our routines going through each of them probably one to two times. When we are getting ready for an event or parade, we usually practice twice a week," explained Minisce.
The Golden Gals MKE do it all in serious style according to newer member, Dianne Crowley
"You've got to have the poms. Gold in this hand, black in that one. We also have different colors for the holidays. I personally love the gold jacket. They also had these epic shoes, who wouldn't want these," said Crowley.
This group's sparkle goes beyond sequins. It's not about perfection for these ladies...rather connection.
"It has filled up some kind of hole in each one of us. For me, a relationship recently ended, and it took my friends along with them. And it was like I am all alone for the first time in my life at 66-years-old," said Gregory.
Gregory tells us, she still gets butterflies with each performance.
"I love it. I love parades but we also do assisted living, we call them standalones. Every time I go in there... my heart is racing but it is that live audience and the parades, I always get nervous but if you don’t, you're not going to do so great," explained Gregory.
It has also gotten member Diane Crowley through the difficult diagnosis of cancer.
"I heard of this group through Patti, and we knew each other about a year ago. Over a year ago she started the Golden Girls September of 2023. At that time, she reached out and said hey we have try outs, why don't you try out? Unfortunately, at that time I was going through chemotherapy. I said you know what I would love to because I've danced since I was little and I danced through college, but at that time I physically could barely move let alone dance," explained Crowley.
But when the opportunity came around a second time, Crowley was in better health.
"Patti was good enough to reach out to me again and she said we would really love for you to try out. It is probably one of the most fantastic experiences I've had in my life. It is the perfect thing at the perfect time, and I couldn't ask for anything better right now. Getting through treatment was the perfect time. It was a joyful experience for me to be a part of life again and to be in parades and this amazing group of women that are kind of more like sisters I never had," said Crowley.
And it's gotten these women through decades of cheering on each other's moves and milestones. Both Elizabeth McAuley and Michelle Neshek tell us this is an opportunity they relish.
"We were Green Bay Packer cheerleaders back in the day. And so, we cheered and kept our relationship and our friendship going throughout the years. It's such a blessing. First of all, to be even to be here to perform at this level and at this age. At this point of our lives, it’s a joy. You still get butterflies, and exciting, there we go again. I think that's what is really wonderful. We are going to places closer to our home too. I would say this group empowers women and I think that's what it is all about. Don't ever give up Continue dancing of whatever you want to do, continue pursuing that. We are very appreciative of our founders. We know this is a once in a lifetime for us to do, and it keeps you motivated you know," explained McAuley and Neshek.
The founders of the group say they never expected this all to evolve the way it has.
"Just creating something from the beginning like that, it's a lot of hard work, but it's so fulfilling," said Minisce.
We asked Minisce what it's like to see the women progress from first learning a dance to getting every move just right.
"It makes me so proud when they do that. Some of the first awards that we won... to actually learn a brand-new dance, learn the steps and then win first place, it makes me so proud," explained Minisce.
As CBS 58's Alex Corradetti found out, the real rewards run deeper for this group than awards.
"This really has saved my life. First of all, I can dance for the rest of my life, and I have a new family and friends," said Gregory.
"I'm getting to know everybody they have been so welcoming to me individually and so supportive of each other. And You know its like a family because we have all these different personalities and different people and different reasons for being here. Everybody is so supportive of each other, and I find that just wonderful because you don't always see that with a large group of people or women," said Crowley.
"It means a lot, it means a lot that we could help somebody in so many ways. We never thought this would happen never, the people's stories that they tell us, we never thought we would do this as a group. It's just a beautiful thing to watch them and hear their stories mostly their stories of what the Golden Gals have done for them not for me but what they've done for each other," explained D'Acquisto.
In homage to their group name, they pay tribute to the beloved show The Golden Gals at the end of each practice.
"Because of our name We used thank you for being a friend from the golden girls because we started it as friendship and it just means a lot to us the song in itself. We go in a circle, and we say a little word that we're grateful for each time," said D'Acquisto.
Minisce says they keep practices a positive environment. The group circle at the end of practice is one of her favorite parts. It's a small tradition with a powerful purpose.
"The most important thing to me is belonging. These women... they really do have golden hearts," said Gregory.
Upcoming Performances for Golden Gals MKE:
Sunday, June 8, 2:00 PM: Milwaukee Pride Parade
Saturday, June 14, 2:00 PM: Appleton Flag Day Parade
Sunday, June 29, 12:00 PM: East Troy Lions Club’s 4th of July Parade
Wednesday, July 2, 7:00 PM: West Allis Independence Day Parade
Thursday, July 3, 7:00: Menomonee Falls Independence Day Parade
Friday, July 4, 9:30 AM: Greendale 4th of July Parade
Saturday, July 12, 10:00 AM: Upper Peninsula Rodeo Parade
Saturday, July 26, 11:00 AM: South Milwaukee Heritage Days Parade
Sunday, August 24, 11:00 AM: Richfield Days Parade
Sunday, September 14, 1:30 PM: Wisconsin Dells Wo-zha-wa Parade
Saturday, October 18, 10:00 AM: Sister Bay Fall Festival Parade
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