They’ve kept the flame of romance burning for nearly 70 years. And it’s being world-famous dancers that young-at-heart Madge and Selwyn Redwood credit for their lasting love.
In their nineties, Madge and Selwyn are the golden couple of The Hip Operation Crew, a hip-hop dance troupe, with members ranging in age from 67 to 95, based on Auckland’s Waiheke Island. Grooving to the sounds of the streets, the lovebirds even have modern-day aliases that keep them hip and fresh.
“I’m known as Dollar 91 and my husband is Sergeant Sel,” Madge (92) says with a smile.
This year, the couple will celebrate 69 years of marriage and their involvement in the group will see them catapulted from the stage to the big screen, with a documentary about the troupe hitting cinemas later this year.
“We joined the group to add excitement to our lives. We never thought we’d become movie stars,” says Selwyn (93).
Belonging to the 25-strong crew keeps Madge and Selwyn young, they say. “Suddenly we can kick up our heels and nobody is around to tell us not to,” Selwyn explains.
The couple, who married in 1945, were in the army when they shared their first dance.
The couple, who have seven great-grandchildren, say it’s not surprising their current hobby is dancing, as they first met at a dance in 1944 when both were in the army. Selwyn was a sergeant major and Madge was a spy, based on Rangitoto Island, monitoring ships coming in and out of Auckland’s harbour during World War II.
“I saw Madge and thought she looked very smart and was well groomed. I fell in love. She was a good dancer back then too,” Selwyn recalls, blushing. They married a year later.
Retiring on Waiheke Island, the pair responded to an ad in the local paper two years ago, looking for elderly people interested in being part of a hip-hop flash mob – a group that assembles in public for a spontaneous performance.
“We didn’t know what hip-hop or a flash mob was. When we found out, we thought it would be fun,” says Madge. “We never let our age stop us from trying new things.”
The group grew in popularity and even made the Guinness World Records book for being the oldest dance troupe. Four members use mobility aids, 11 are over 80, one is legally blind and many are deaf. Despite the range of ailments, the group travelled to Las Vegas last year to perform at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships.
“Going to Las Vegas to strut our stuff in front of hip-hop fans was amazing,” says Madge. “It’s great to mingle and be involved in a hobby that attracts so many young people. They love seeing us perform and do a toned-down version of what they do.”
Madge and Selwyn, aka Dollar 91 and Sergeant Sel, put their hands up for the troupe and never looked back.
The group has perfected moves such as locking and popping, but break dancing is a no-no, as it could cause serious damage, Selwyn says.
They’ve also become world famous, appearing on the front page of The Wall Street Journal and in spots on prime shows in Europe and the US.
“To be honest, I don’t think much of hip-hop,” confesses Selwyn. “I’ve been involved in brass bands, but hip-hop is different. It has a beat, and that’s all I can say about it.”
Madge says the hobby allows her to be active, which is important when reaching her twilight years.
“I was involved in a car accident many years ago, and was told that if I didn’t exercise regularly, I would be confined to a wheelchair. Hip-hop has helped me with that and I’m having lots of fun too.”
The pair say they won’t stop entertaining crowds and will perform whenever they’re needed.
“We’ve proven life really does begin at 90,” Madge says.
