Seniors Festival 2025: Boomers Take Home TikTok Dance-Off Trophy - Youth Left Mowing Lawns

Imogen Fairchild | Arts & Culture Editor | Sutherland Shire Gazette

21 March 2025

At this year’s NSW Seniors Festival, a celebration of the invaluable contributions of our local older residents, the unthinkable happened - boomers dominated the TikTok dance-off, leaving the younger generation in the dust and walking away with the coveted trophy and, of course, a month’s worth of free lawn care from their defeated rivals.

The competition, a highlight of the week-long festival designed to foster intergenerational connections, quickly became the talk of the town. Though the local teens arrived armed with flips, high kicks, and dance routines that would make a gymnast jealous, it was the seasoned moves of the retirees that stole the show.

“We’ve been dancing since the Beatles were big,” said 79-year-old Jeanette Thompson, catching her breath after her winning routine.

“We may not be able to do a backflip, but we sure can do a mean Macarena. These kids didn’t know what hit them when we busted out the Chicken Dance.”

Despite their youthful energy, the digital-age dancers were no match for the boomers, who seamlessly blended traditional steps like the Charleston with TikTok's latest trends. 

“Honestly, I thought we had it in the bag,” said 17-year-old Zai Fuller. “But after seeing my grandma do the Running Man, I’m reconsidering my whole life.”

As part of the ongoing spirit of the Seniors Festival - which promotes social connection, health, and well-being among older residents - the defeated participants were tasked with mowing the lawns of their victorious elders for an entire month.

The event, live streamed for all to see, not only celebrated the dynamism of seniors but also gave the so-called ‘tech-savvy crowd’ a newfound respect for the groovy power of their grandparents. Turns out, life experience beats a trending dance challenge any day.