Key facts
- Moving to music offers numerous health benefits for older adults.
- Dance can improve balance, strength, mobility, flexibility, and cognitive function.
- It engages the brain, improves mood, and fosters social connection.
- Adding dance sessions to weekly exercise is recommended by geriatricians.
- Dance groups perform for retirement home residents, benefiting memory care patients.
Moving to music offers a multitude of health benefits for older adults, according to medical professionals and participants in dance programs. Carol Ross, 87, continues to lead the Rodeo City Wreckettes, a tap and jazz dance troupe for women aged 50 and older in Tucson, Arizona, demonstrating the lifelong joy and vitality that dance can provide.
Experts like Julio Loya, a nurse and geriatric program coordinator at Tucson Medical Center, emphasize that dancing is a powerful activity for seniors. It contributes to weight loss, increased strength, reduced fall risk, improved mobility and flexibility, and enhanced brain health. Loya notes that dance engages the mind, positively impacts mood, and fosters social connections, all while being enjoyable.
Dr. Thomas Johnson, a geriatrician at UCHealth Seniors Clinic, highlighted a patient whose dying wish was to dance until the end, underscoring the profound importance of dance in some individuals' lives. He recommends that older patients incorporate two to three dance sessions weekly into their recommended 150 minutes of aerobic exercise, as dance often includes movements that specifically improve balance, such as backward walking or single-leg stands.
For many, like Wreckettes member Cindy Soffrin, 74, staying active through dance is a conscious choice to avoid the sedentary lifestyle that negatively impacted her mother. Gail Kowalski, 67, found a new community and friendship in the Wreckettes after moving to Tucson following her husband's death.
The Rodeo City Wreckettes, along with similar groups like the Vegas Golden Gals, not only practice routines but also perform for retirement home residents, particularly those in memory care. These performances often elicit positive responses from residents, and the groups donate their earnings to charities.
Health professionals suggest that individuals interested in starting dance later in life should consult their doctor, choose simple styles, and explore options at community centers, colleges, or online. Proper warm-ups and stretching are also advised.