BAPA Kickers

Did you know the Kickers once had a queen in their ranks?

While performing as a Kicker, Miriam Adamson danced her way all the way to a national crown! In 1994, two Kickers competed in the Ms. Senior Georgia pageant, and Miriam earned the title of Second Runner-Up. But true to the determined spirit of the Kickers, she wasn't finished yet.

The following year, Miriam returned to the competition and captured the crown, becoming Ms. Senior Georgia 1995!

Of course, dance played a starring role in her talent performance—a perfect showcase of the passion and skill she had showed as a Kicker. But her remarkable journey didn't stop there.

Just a few months later, Miriam traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi, to compete in the Ms. Senior America pageant. Surrounded by outstanding women from across the country, Miriam once again took center stage—and won!

From the Kicker stage to the national spotlight, Miriam proved that dedication, talent, and a little Kicker spirit can take you all the way to the crown.

In 1998, the Kickers were thrilled to be featured entertainment at the Mayor's Walk hosted by the Georgia Striders!

This event was held to emphasize fitness for seniors and to educate the public how important it is for seniors to keep moving, which fits right in with the Kicker's mission. They are, after all, the Ambassadors of Fitness and Fun!

Practice makes perfect whether we are learning a new dance or rehearsing one we have been doing for years!

Did you know the Kickers’ roots trace back to one of the most iconic dance troupes in the world?

From the very beginning, the Kickers drew inspiration from the legendary Radio City Rockettes. In fact, the ladies even took a special group trip to the historic Fox Theatre to see the Rockettes perform during their very first touring show in 1993!

That influence still shines on stage today. If you've ever watched a Kicker performance, you may have spotted one of our kick lines—a nod to the precision, energy, and showmanship of the Rockette that inspired the Kicker dancers.

Decades later, the tradition continues as our ladies prove that great dance, big smiles, and high kicks never go out of style!

35 years! The Kickers have been around for over 35 years! Can you believe it? Want to know what they have gotten up to over those years? Throughout the summer we will be sharing some of the highlights from the Kicker's history!

First, how did the group get started?
Imagine a volunteer “must have” list that includes eyeshadow, sequins, feathers, and glitter.
It was 1990 when Marilyn Patoprsty approached Fran Lally with the idea to change the YMCA’s senior aerobics class to a dance group. Fran thought it could be done and the “Cobb YMCA Kickers, ambassadors of fitness and fun”, were born. Berneice Berry, one of the original members, remembers the simple black tee shirt with black anklets over her tights that served for every dance. Now armloads of costumes accompany each member.

We are a group of women, originally over 60 years old, whose mission is to reach, both physically and emotionally, the people confined to assisted living, nursing homes, adult day care centers, and even the cloistered of the hospice. When we are through with our dances, we leave the “stage” and go into the audience to embrace, talk to, and , most important, listen to each member of the group. We hear from administrators that we are the topic of conversation for weeks after our visit and for a long time before we are scheduled to return.

All of this is the result of the intense work of our instructors. Starting with Fran, followed by Judy Guard and Brenda Smith, we worked for years out of the East Cobb YMCA and our performances stretched from Cartersville to the VA hospital in Decatur.

After the pandemic in 2020, we found a new home at the British Academy of Performing Arts and became the “BAPA Kickers” under the leadership of Jey Sadeckas and the studio’s director Marsha Newton. Since then we lowered the age requirement to 55 and have kept the Kicker’s mission alive! We have enjoyed learning from not only Jey, but also our instructor Katherine Reeves and our current instructor, Rebekah Evans.

Our group has grown to numbers as large as 30 and has shrank to numbers as small as 10 over the years. Our members beat cancer, get joints replaced, fight through illness, and mourn the passing of friends, but we always return to the stage ready to perform.

You just can’t keep a Kicker down!

We took a couple weeks off, but now we are back to work! Today we got back in the studio and started learning pieces for next season. We can't wait to share these new dances with everyone!

Monday we head back to the studio to start working on next season's shows!
The Kickers just never stop kicking!

We are welcoming in summer with open arms! Bring on the sunshine!

We had such a great 2025/2026 season! We revisited some of our favorite venues, performed for some new groups, and participated in our first Nutcracker Swings! What a wonderful season!

Who needs bingo when you've got jazz hands and sequins?