Mary Serritella, a name synonymous with defying age and embracing passion, recently captivated the audience at Hollywood’s famed Bourbon Room. Dressed in striking 7-inch neon heels and flowing translucent yellow bell-bottoms, this extraordinary woman showcased a pole dancing performance that was nothing short of breathtaking. Spinning with grace and power around the silver pole, Serritella, who performs under the moniker Mary Caryl, effortlessly contorted her body into a series of awe-inspiring poses. Moves with names like “The Chopstick,” the elegant “Jade Split,” and the dramatic “Black Sun Split” – where she suspended herself upside down, gripping the pole only with her core and thigh while holding a foot in each hand – demonstrated her incredible flexibility and strength.
This wasn’t just a display of athleticism; it was a sensual and captivating performance that had the crowd roaring with appreciation. However, the true shockwave came after her set when Mary Serritella revealed she had just celebrated her 71st birthday. The room erupted. Cheers, whistles, and exclamations of disbelief filled the air. One young woman in the front row punched the air in exhilaration, while another bowed in a gesture reminiscent of the iconic “Wayne’s World” “we’re not worthy” scene. Mary Serritella, the 71-year-old pole dancer, was an instant sensation.
Mary Serritella Pole Dance Performance
“You never lose it if you never let it go,” Serritella announced to the captivated audience, her voice ringing with conviction. “And five years ago, I had a hip replacement. I’m a bionic woman!” The crowd responded with another wave of enthusiastic cheers. Christina Calph, the host of the Comedy Pole Show who booked Serritella for the evening, described her as a true inspiration. “Watching Mary,” Calph exclaimed, “I think, ‘Oh my God, I can be beautiful for the rest of my life.'”
In Los Angeles, a city known for its pursuit of youth and where anti-aging treatments are commonplace, Mary Serritella embodies a powerful message: aging doesn’t mean relinquishing beauty, sexuality, strength, or the passions that ignite your soul. Mary Serritella, the pole dancer, stands as a vibrant testament to this truth.
Serritella continues to embrace life to the fullest. She confidently wears high heels, performs in bikinis, and shares glimpses of her energetic life on Instagram. To maintain the remarkable upper body strength and flexibility required for pole dancing – climbing, bending, twisting into seemingly impossible shapes – she dedicates herself to workouts at least five times a week. This dedication is what allows Mary Serritella, the 71-year-old pole dancer, to continue to amaze.
Of course, age does bring certain challenges. Arthritis can make gripping the pole more difficult, and the hip replacement is a constant reminder of physical limitations overcome. “When I wake up in the morning, I’m a little stiffer than I used to be, and early on I sprained a knee,” Serritella admits. However, she embraces a pragmatic philosophy, echoing the serenity prayer: “Accept the things you can’t change, and change the things you can.” This resilience is core to Mary Serritella’s inspiring journey as a pole dancer.
Living in Northridge, California, Mary Serritella’s pole dancing journey began in 2010 when she was 57. That same year marked another significant milestone: her youngest of three children graduated college. A casual conversation with a friend from her children’s school fundraising committee, who mentioned taking pole dancing classes, sparked her initial curiosity. On a whim, Serritella asked to join. Although the gym class disbanded after she learned only a few basic moves, the seed was planted. She was instantly captivated. “I wasn’t good. I couldn’t climb the pole. I couldn’t do anything,” she recalls. “But I wanted to.” This desire to learn and overcome challenges is what propelled Mary Serritella to become the pole dancer she is today.
Undeterred, Serritella sought out specialized studios, including Vertitude L.A. in Canoga Park and Choreography House in North Hollywood (now closed). Driven by passion, she sometimes attended three classes in a single evening. “Both of them had incredible owners and instructors, and they would bring in other incredible instructors from around the world, so I feel like I had the best training,” she acknowledges. This dedication to training and learning from the best is a testament to Mary Serritella’s commitment to pole dancing.
While pole dancing’s origins trace back to 1950s strip clubs, it has evolved into a mainstream fitness and performance art form in recent decades. Gyms and specialized studios have proliferated across the country, making pole dancing accessible to a wider audience. Since 2009, organizations like the International Pole Sports Federation have been advocating for pole dancing to be recognized as an Olympic sport, although this remains an uphill battle.
As pole dancing gained popularity, diverse styles emerged. Some performers prioritize athleticism and gravity-defying tricks, while others focus on storytelling and emotional expression. Sensuality remains a significant element in many routines. Mary Serritella embraced all facets of this diverse art form. “I remember taking a class with a parole officer who was teaching all these trashy moves on the pole and the chair,” she recounts with amusement. “I was like, ‘OK, this is me at 57 years old, and I’m learning all this fun stuff.’” This open-mindedness and willingness to explore different styles are part of what makes Mary Serritella such a compelling pole dancer.
In 2011, just three months after starting classes, Serritella entered her first pole dance competition in the 40-and-over masters category. The invitation from the Pole Sport Organization came unexpectedly on a Tuesday, asking her to compete that Saturday. Despite the incredibly short notice, her inherent drive kicked in. She had a costume idea and had been developing a routine, so she accepted the challenge. “I was like, ‘Am I crazy?’” she laughs. “But it’s always been my personality to do things and not be afraid.” This fearless attitude is a defining characteristic of Mary Serritella, the pole dancer.
Her debut solo performance was at a Vertitude showcase, where she playfully dressed as Mrs. Claus, dancing to “Santa Baby.” More recently, in 2023, she achieved first place at Pole Art Italy, an international competition, with a performance themed “dancin’ and romancin’” set to a medley of country-inspired songs: “These Boots Are Made for Walking,” “I Only Date Cowboys,” and “Lady.” Her costume included pink cowboy boots, a beaded pink cowboy hat, a tie-front sports bra, and denim pole shorts, perfectly capturing the fun and playful spirit of her performance style. “Burlesque and comedy are my favorite styles,” she explains. “Some dancers really love dramatic music. That’s not me.” Mary Serritella’s comedic and burlesque pole dancing style is a key part of her unique appeal.
Her family has largely embraced her pole dancing journey. Tony, her husband of 33 years, isn’t surprised by her endeavors, recalling her past ventures, including hosting a local public access television show in the ‘90s and appearing on a Norwegian reality TV show in 2012. “Nothing she does surprises me,” he says with a smile. As for her children, Serritella notes that her daughter was immediately supportive, while her sons took a little longer to adjust. “I think they were shocked that I had this fun side to me,” she reflects. However, her middle son and his wife were in the audience at the Bourbon Room, showing their support. “I’ve learned to roll with it,” her son admitted, now fully accepting and even admiring his mother’s passion.
Among her younger pole dancing peers, Mary Serritella is revered. Teresa Fischer, an instructor at Luscious Maven, Serritella’s current studio in North Hollywood, calls her “a legend in the industry.” Stephanie Pozos, another friend from the studio, emphasizes her captivating stage presence: “She has incredible flow, and she really knows how to show off what she’s good at and play to her strengths.” Angelina Medina, who started pole dancing two and a half years ago, sees Serritella’s style as a reflection of her personality: “bubbly and entrancing.” Medina adds, “I love that she’s defying society’s narrative. I just turned 33, and society tells us as women that life is over after 30. It’s really not.” Mary Serritella, the pole dancer, serves as a powerful role model, particularly for younger women facing societal age pressures.
Beyond pole dancing, Serritella has a long-standing background in beauty. She sells makeup from home, designs and sells her own line of pole dancing apparel, and has worked as an image consultant. She readily shares beauty advice with friends and clients.
“My two big ones are drink water and keep moving to help you flush out everything you take in,” she advises. “A lot of times you see people who are my age, and they are puffy-eyed, and they have bloat. That’s what it is — lack of water, lack of mobility.” Her other beauty tips include wearing foundation daily to lock in moisturizer and protect skin, eating healthily (but not obsessively), and embracing small indulgences like lipstick, cake, or coffee with friends. While these tips are practical, Serritella’s true “superpower” is her unwavering ability to challenge societal ageism and live life authentically.
“So often through the years, women would say things to me like, ‘I can’t wear heels anymore’ or whatever it was, and I would put a psychological bubble around myself,” she explains. “I just didn’t want to absorb that ‘I can’t’ attitude.” This mental resilience is key to Mary Serritella’s inspiring journey as a pole dancer and beyond.
While maintaining beauty and strength may require more effort as we age, Serritella emphasizes that it is absolutely achievable. Her message is clear and empowering: if you have a dream, pursue it. “We say our children are our future, and that’s true, but we’re their future too,” she concludes. Mary Serritella, the 71-year-old pole dancer, is living proof that age is just a number and that passion and determination can defy any limitation.
Back at the Bourbon Room, after her show-stopping performance, Serritella rejoined the audience, now dressed down in jeans and a gray tank top but still sporting her signature 7-inch heels. Unable to locate her tennis shoes in the green room, she navigated the crowded room with grace and humor. As the lights dimmed for the next act, comedian Annie Lederman, Serritella dropped to her hands and knees and crawled to her seat, careful not to obstruct anyone’s view. When Lederman took the stage, she surveyed the crowd and quipped with mock despair, “I have to follow Mary?” The audience erupted in laughter, recognizing the incredible act they had just witnessed. Mary Serritella, the 71-year-old pole dancer, had not just performed; she had left an indelible mark.
