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Bringing Dance to Older Adults: Program Experts’ Perspectives on the Role of Community Dance Classes to Support Older Adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2024

Vanessa Paglione Open the ORCID record for Vanessa Paglione [Opens in a new window] ,
Lindsay Morrison Open the ORCID record for Lindsay Morrison [Opens in a new window] ,
Meghan H. McDonough ,
Andrea Downie  and
Sarah J. Kenny
Vanessa Paglione
Affiliation:
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Lindsay Morrison
Affiliation:
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Meghan H. McDonough
Affiliation:
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Andrea Downie
Affiliation:
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Sarah J. Kenny*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada School of Creative and Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
*
Corresponding author: La correspondance et les demandes de tirésàpart doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Sarah J. Kenny, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 ([email protected]).
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Abstract

Background:

Dancing offers several health and wellness benefits for older adults: it may promote physical literacy (PL) and positively influence the aging process. Yet, limited research considers the perspectives of those with experience working with older adults and in community dance programming.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to understand program experts’ perspectives on how older adult community dance can promote PL and contribute to age-friendly cities and community initiatives.

Methods and Findings:

Four themes were identified from semi-structured interviews with five program experts: (1) expert instructors tailor classes to participants’ needs and interests; (2) the heart of what draws us to dancing: authentic experience and social connection; (3) elitist, ableist, and gendered assumptions of dance prevent social inclusion of older adults in dancing spaces; and (4) collaboration across sectors is needed to offer accessible, sustainable, and valued dance programming.

Discussion:

Recommendations for developing and implementing older adult community dance programming are described.

Résumé

RésuméContext:

La danse présente plusieurs bienfaits potentiels pour la santé et le mieux-être des personnes âgées. Elle peut promouvoir la culture de l’activité physique et influer positivement sur le processus du vieillissement. Pourtant, peu d’études se penchent sur les points de vue des intervenants qui ont une expérience en travail auprès des personnes âgées et en organisation d’activités de danse communautaires.

Objectif:

L’objectif de cette étude était de comprendre les points de vue d’experts sur la façon dont les activités communautaires de danse destinées aux personnes âgées peuvent promouvoir la culture de l’activité physique et contribuer au développement de villes et d’initiatives communautaires adaptées aux personnes âgées.

Méthodes and Résultats:

Notre analyse d’entretiens semi-structurés menés avec cinq experts en organisation d’activités communautaires a fait ressortir quatre thèmes : 1) les animateurs experts adaptent les cours en fonction des besoins et intérêts des participants; 2) l’authenticité et le lien social sont au cœur de ce qui nous attire dans la danse; 3) les conceptions élitistes, capacitistes et genrées de la danse entravent l’inclusion des personnes âgées dans des espaces de danse; et 4) une collaboration intersectorielle est nécessaire pour offrir des activités de danse accessibles, durables et prisées.

Discussion:

L’étude propose des recommandations pour la conception et la mise en œuvre d’activités communautaires de danse destinées aux personnes âgées.

Keywords

older adultsdancephysical literacyage-friendlyagingpersonnes âgéesdanseculture de l’activité physiqueadaptationvieillissement
Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 43 , Issue 4 , December 2024 , pp. 482 - 490
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Copyright
© Canadian Association on Gerontology 2024

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Footnotes

Findings from this research were presented at the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science’s 32nd Annual Conference in Limerick, Ireland in 2022.

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