At a moment in time when we could all use an escape, the words of the choreographer Agnes de Mille offer a clear path. She said, “To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.” Especially for those of us feeling beaten down by the events of the day, the idea of throwing oneself into a dance may offer sweet respite. In a previous agebuzz post, we noted the value of dance for both physical and cognitive health. 

Now a new study published in JAMA Network Open describes the value of dance to reduce the risk of falling in older adults. Examining data from a range of studies, this new research determined that older adults who engage in an array of dance styles (ballroom, folk, etc.) were less likely to fall than those who just walked or engaged in other sorts of physical activities. Dance based mind-motor activities led to a 37% reduction in fall risk and a 31% reduced rate of falls. This led to the conclusion that dance-based mind-motor activities, which would include Tai Chi, may be a valuable part of fall reduction efforts for older adults. So strap on your toe shoes and read more here.   

Right now, of course, few of us can engage in dance instruction or social dancing in person, given COVID restrictions. That has not, however, stopped some organizations of older dancers from continuing their efforts, albeit remotely over Zoom. For example, ballet classes for older adults are being run over Zoom through The Ageless Dancer Ballet Barre class of the National Museum of Dance. As well, the community program Dances For A Variable Population in New York runs both free and tuition-based remote classes for adults of all ages and abilities. The Washington Post also recently profiled a local senior dance troupe that had to suspend their in-person visits to long term care facilities, where they engaged residents in dance moves, but have resumed their usual practice sessions over Zoom.

Finally, for those of you who miss the thrill of a live, in-person dance performance, there are many dance troupes that have either made previous performances available for streaming or are performing remotely for virtual viewers. To sample some of these selections, grab a program, and click here.