The Benefits of Dance for Older People

Dancing is a past time enjoyed by many both young and old across the world on a
daily basis. Whether it is dancing whilst listening to music whilst doing the
housework or attending a weekly salsa class the beauty of dance is that it is really for
everyone and can be enjoyed at any time.
However we would like to highlight the benefits of dance particularly for older adults.

Promotes physical activity

Older people are less likely to exercise however those who partake in regular physical
activity are more likely to live longer as they maintain their balance, strength gait and
cardiovascular health. Dance is great for older adults as it is low level exercise that
works all of the body from head to toe and encourages moving through a space,
getting the heart pumping and providing the opportunity to gently move and stretch.

Promotes cognitive function

Older people typically experience a progressive decline in cognitive ability, memory
and reaction time as they age. Learning dance steps and sequences can be mentally
demanding and is a skill that needs to be developed but dancers are known to
maximize cognitive function and muscle memory through practice. Dance also
challenges reaction time and perception because of the quick thinking that is
required to remember what step comes next. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMdrB_MKbPs

Promotes Social Inclusion

Older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation dance can be
a group activity where people meet weekly and form friendships. The best dance
classes are the ones where the dancers go and have a coffee and a chat afterwards
reducing the feeling of loneliness and isolation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-lIhadIwtk

Improves mental wellbeing

Older people are more vulnerable to experiencing mental health problems, with
depression affecting around 22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 years and over.
Dance can help to reduce stress, increases levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin,
and helps develop new neural connections, especially in regions involved in executive
function, long-term memory, and spatial recognition. Dance which is a meaningful
activity can also encourage individuals to focus on activity for a sustained period and
help individuals feel a sense of achievement when they have learnt the steps to a
challenging routine.

Promotes self-expression

Older people may not get the opportunity to express their creativity and perhaps are
no longer self-aware. Dancing can be powerful energy release that can release tension
and provide you with the opportunity to explore your own range of movement and
feelings. If you choose to dance to music then there are the added benefits of having
songs as a stimulus which can also enhance your mood and also perhaps encourage
reminisce.

So dust off your dancing shoes and Keep Dancing!

Find out your nearest Keep Dancing class here.
https://www.fayeoconnordance.com/keep-dancing 
Cal : 07984423524
Email : info@fayeoconnordance.com