WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – 87-year-old Judy Kelley has been tap dancing for nearly her entire life, and she doesn’t plan to quit anytime soon.

Kelley spends her time sharing her talent with others as a dance teacher.

“I’ve been teaching here since 1999,” said Kelley.

She has been a teacher for 30 years, but what’s more impressive is she’s been a tap dancer since she was six years old.

“My mom was working and my neighbor wanted to take her children to dance and wanted to know if I wanted to go along, so I did,” said Kelley.

The rest, as they say, is history.

“I love the music, I love the body movements,” said Kelley. “I love being able to enjoy putting myself into it.”

Over the decades, Kelley traveled all over performing and auditioned to be a Rockette when she was 17.

“They have a tape measure around the doorway,” she said. “If you don’t measure up you don’t even have a chance to try out.”

At five-foot-two, she wasn’t tall enough.

“3 inches too short,” said Kelley.

Regardless, she went on to have other achievements, such as being Miss North Carolina Senior America in 2000 and working with famous dancers.

To this day, her talents are still bringing joy to her life and her students’ lives.

“It makes me feel good to know I’m doing something good for somebody else,” said Kelley.

At 87 years young, she’s proving age is just a number.

“I’ve had 3-year-olds and I’ve had them all the way up to the 80’s. I stopped doing the children when I moved here and I just do the seniors,” said Kelley. “They’re a challenge but I love it. They’re energetic just like the little ones were.”

Her students say they wouldn’t have that energy without her.

Considering Judy has been tap dancing nearly her entire life, nothing is going to stop her now, and she’ll keep teaching for as long as she can.

Copyright 2025 WECT. All rights reserved.