Calendar Girls of SWFL Dance for a Cause with Dogs Inc.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK) — High kicks, big hearts and sparkly costumes are normal for the Calendar girls of Southwest Florida. But aside from dancing and performing for the community, they also advocate for the thing they love most: Veterans and Dogs Inc.

With more than 200 performances a year and countless costumes, the Calendar Girls are easy to recognize. The local dance group is made up of women who believe age is just a number and confidence only grows with time. All members are over the age of 50, and the oldest dancer is 85.

Known for their high-energy routines and community appearances, the group says dancing is only part of what they do.

Dance captain Shelly Noe said the group feels more like family than a team, “We spend more time with each other than at home. These are like my sorority sisters. Not only do we get to support organizations like Dogs Inc., but we also get the chance to make a family,” Noe said.

Noe also encourages others to try out for the group, saying everyone is welcome, “We accept everyone. We have members who are 85 and even someone who is legally blind. We go to events all across Southwest Florida,” she said.

But these dazzling dancers do not just dance for fun. They dance for a cause, supporting Dogs Inc. and veterans.

Dogs Inc. is a nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans and individuals with physical disabilities. The organization provides the dogs at no cost, helping increase independence and mobility. Each dog goes through years of specialized training before being matched with its future handler.

Jackie Schiemann, who has a service dog from Dogs Inc., said the partnership with the Calendar Girls means a lot. “I am so grateful we are partnered with such an amazing group that advocates for us. Seeing them dance gives me goosebumps,” Schiemann said.

For the Calendar Girls, dancing is about more than performing. It is about staying active, building friendships and using their platform to support causes that matter in Southwest Florida. For Dogs Inc., every public appearance helps raise awareness about the long journey it takes to train a service dog and the life-changing impact each one can have.

After thousands of performances over the years, the dancers still have unforgettable moments.

Debbie Frazier said one memory that will always stand out in her mind, “We were invited to audition for America’s Got Talent. We got a limo to pick us up, and we all went. I will never forget what it was like to sit with all my friends and go to that,” Frazier said.

In Southwest Florida, even a dance routine can help change a life.