“I believe nothing is impossible”

… says the world’s oldest dancer, Tao Porchon Lynch, who after a hip replacement surgery continues to dance and teach yoga

By Zoha Tapia

At 94, Tao Porchon Lynch is the world’s oldest dancer, but along with being just an artist, she is an inspirational woman, leading an extraordinary life, overcoming medical adversities and abolishing the age barrier. Starting her career is an actor, Lynch was a part of many French, British and Hollywood movies, but that was just a small stint in her long life.

She grew up in Pondicherry, where she learnt yoga but took it up professionally and became an instructor when she was around 50-years-old. “There is so much to do in life, and I want to keep trying out new things, as I believe nothing is impossible. I have been practicing yoga for the past 75 years and teaching it for the last 45 years. I follow the principles of yoga and believe it is an extension to our life and can help heal us and our surroundings, by bringing about a never say die attitude. There is nothing we cannot do if we harness the power within us,” shares Lynch.

Though yoga is an extension of her life, for her the “joy of life” is her ability to dance. A competitive ballroom dancer, at her age she performs the Tango, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Rumba, Mamba etc effortlessly and with absolute precision. She says, “The joy of dancing is the joy of life and anyone who doesn’t want to age, should take it up. Along with that since it is a partner dance, it brings about a sense of unity and companionship.”

At the age of 87 Lynch broke her hip and underwent a hip replacement surgery. Post the surgery her doctor asked her to slow down but Lynch wasn’t the kind of person to be bogged down under medical pressure. “I thought about it but then nothing is impossible. After a month, I started dancing again and along with my dance partner, who is less than half my age, I took part in competitive ballroom dancing again along with teaching yoga. I even sent a picture to my doctor, to show him there is nothing you cannot do,” she asserts.

Think of ballroom dancing and the first image that will come to your mind are graceful dancers twirling with high heels. But heels after a hip-replacement surgery? Seems like a daunting task, but not for Lynch. “It is said that energy comes from the arches of your heels and when you wear heels it strengthens your arches. I love high heels but not flat shoes. Unless I am sleeping, I will be wearing at least three inch heels, even when I am dancing,” she says.
An ageless dancer and an embodiment of a never-say-die spirit, Lynch knows she is an inspiration to many,  “I have received standing ovations from judges and had people come up to me and say no one dances like you do,” she reminisces, but all she wants is for people to realise that nothing is impossible.