“It Can Be Magic:” Creating Age Awareness Through Contemporary Dance

Professional dancers typically retire before age 40. Although the physical requirements for dance performance are often considered the reason for retirement, there is an increasing number dance researchers who demonstrate that the idealization of youthfulness on the stage is also a result of complex cultural, social, and economic realities and as such, in need of critique. As a group of mature women dancers who continue to perform, we aim to critique the idealization of youthfulness as a form of ageism in professional dance. In this paper, we present findings from our feminist memory-work study in which we critically reflected the rehearsals and performance of a choreography titled “Initiation.” We detail three main themes—”It Will Only Get Worse;” “It Can Be Magic;” “Once a Dancer Always a Dancer”—that emerged from our study. We conclude that we gained critical awareness of the gendered and ageist construction of dance as a performing art. As a result, we now feel empowered to continue our work as mature dance artists.

Promoting wellbeing and health through active participation in music and dance: a systematic review

Purpose: This review aims to reveal how music and dance participation relates to key social determinants of health, and acts as population wellbeing and health promotion and preventive tools for people without pre-existing health issues in diverse social groups.

Methods: A qualitative systematic literature review addresses the questions: 1) How might music and dance cultural practices relate to social determinants of health?; 2) What gaps exist in the current body of research examining how healthy individuals/populations maintain and promote good health and wellbeing through music and dance participation?; 3) What are the implications of the current body of literature for healthcare, policy and research?

Results: Music and dance relate to key social determinants of health, from social and cultural, and physical and mental health perspectives. A number of gaps in the literature exist, including underrepresentation of middle aged participants, men, and Indigenous, LGBTQIAP+, and migrant populations. There is a lack of consistency in theoretical and methodological approaches, and a language for effective communication across arts and health audiences.

Conclusions: A significant opportunity exists for cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance healthcare and arts policy, generate cost-effective approaches to preventive healthcare practice, and enhance the wellbeing and health of large and diverse populations.

Effect of dance therapies on motor-cognitive dual-task performance in middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: To systematically review the effectiveness of dance-based programs to improve motor-cognitive dual-task performance in middle-aged and older adults.Materials and methods: Five scientific databases were selected to identify the articles included in this systematic review. Ninety-one articles were found in the electronic databases. Fourteen articles fulfilled all inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with a modified version of Downs and Black checklist. PRISMA guidelines were followed in the data extraction process. The overall effect size of the improvements was calculated through a meta-analysis.Results: All the studies had an acceptable methodological quality. Dance-based interventions had a duration of 8-52 weeks, 1-3 sessions per week, with sessions lasting 40-90 min. According to the overall effect size, dance-based interventions significantly improved dual-task performance (-0.48 with a 95% confidence interval from -0.88 to -0.08).Conclusions: Dance-based intervention programs may be effective at improving the performance on motor-cognitive dual-task in middle-aged and older adults. Apart from the effects on the cognitive Time Up and Go test, dance interventions may also improve speed walking with a cognitive task. All these conclusions must be taken with caution due to the heterogeneity and the small number of articles. Future research can be developed to increase the knowledge on these issues.Implications for rehabilitationInterventions based on dance as part of rehabilitation can improve the performance on TUG under dual-task condition in aging.Interventions based on dance can be effective to improve the development of some tasks of daily life by reducing time in a motor task under dual task condition in aging.Physical therapists, personal trainers and other clinicians can use different types of dance for improving dual-tasking among the adults.

'Dance to Health': an evaluation of health, social and dance interest outcomes of a dance programme for the prevention of falls

Background: Falls and related injuries in the older population are major public health issues requiring more innovative and effective solutions. This paper reports an evaluation of the Dance to Health (DtH) programme which integrates evidence-based physiotherapy falls-prevention exercises into creative dance.Methods: Sixty-seven participants took part in a mixed-methods study that combined focus group discussions and six pre/post-test questionnaires with a focus on dance interest and ability, group identity, loneliness and isolation, general health and mental health.Results: The findings show that the DtH programme can support and enhance physical, mental and social health and levels of interest in dance. The mixed data yielded evidence of positive change, with statistical significance in findings relating to group bonding and improved physical control and coordination.Conclusions: The findings support the case for recommending the Dance to Health programme in falls-prevention services in relation to its ability to promote a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits.

Effects of Thai traditional dance on balance performance in daily life among older women

BACKGROUND

Previous research indicates that dance training may improve balance among older adults.

AIMS

This study investigated the effects of Thai traditional dance on balance performance among older women.

METHODS

Forty-three women aged 60-80 years, with mean scores between 45 and 52 points on the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups: a Thai traditional dance group (TTDG) (n = 22) and a control group (CG) (n = 21). TTD program comprised three dance sessions of 30-60 min per week over the course of 12 weeks while the CG kept their normal daily activities. Balance performance was assessed using standardized tests including the NeuroCom Balance Master^® System (Version 9.2), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and the BBS.

RESULTS

The results revealed that overall balance was better for those in TTDG compared to the CG. There was a significantly lower sway velocity and faster weight transfer in the Sit-to-Stand Test (p ≤ 0.001) for those in the dance group. TTDG had quicker turn time in the Step Quick Turn Test (p ≤ 0.001), improved Step Up Over Test and Walk Across Test, faster movement time, walking speed, and a better score in the TUG after training (p ≤ 0.001).

DISCUSSION

A 3-weekly Thai traditional dance intervention significantly improved balance and mobility among older community-dwelling women as compared to normal daily activities.

CONCLUSION

Thai traditional dance could potentially prevent age-related mobility and balance decline and its related fall risk.

The association between balance and free-living physical activity in an older community-dwelling adult population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Poor balance is associated with an increased risk of falling, disability and death in older populations. To better inform policies and help reduce the human and economic cost of falls, this novel review explores the effects of free-living physical activity on balance in older (50 years and over) healthy community-dwelling adults.

METHODS

Search methods: CENTRAL, Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group Specialised register and CDSR in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and AMED were searched from inception to 7th June 2016.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Intervention and observational studies investigating the effects of free-living PA on balance in healthy community-dwelling adults (50 years and older).

DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS

Thirty studies were eligible for inclusion. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were independently carried out by two review authors. Due to the variety of outcome measures used in studies, balance outcomes from observational studies were pooled as standardised mean differences or mean difference where appropriate and 95% confidence intervals, and outcomes from RCTs were synthesised using a best evidence approach.

RESULTS

Limited evidence provided by a small number of RCTs, and evidence from observational studies of moderate methodological quality, suggest that free-living PA of between one and 21 years' duration improves measures of balance in older healthy community-dwelling adults. Statistical analysis of observational studies found significant effects in favour of more active groups for neuromuscular measures such as gait speed; functionality using Timed Up and Go, Single Leg Stance, and Activities of Balance Confidence Scale; flexibility using the forward reach test; and strength using the isometric knee extension test and ultrasound. A significant effect was also observed for less active groups on a single sensory measure of balance, the knee joint repositioning test.

CONCLUSION

There is some evidence that free-living PA is effective in improving balance outcomes in older healthy adults, but future research should include higher quality studies that focus on a consensus of balance measures that are clinically relevant and explore the effects of free-living PA on balance over the longer-term.

To dance or not to dance? A comparison of balance, physical fitness and quality of life in older Irish set dancers and age-matched controls

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine if older adults regularly participating in Irish set dancing have superior balance, physical fitness and quality of life compared to age-matched controls.

STUDY DESIGN

This study used a community-based, observational cross-sectional design.

METHODS

Regular set dancers (n = 39) and age-matched controls (n = 33) were recruited. Participants were assessed using the physical activity scale for the elderly (physical activity levels), mini-BESTest (balance) and senior fitness test (battery of functional fitness tests). Quality of life was also assessed using the EuroQol EQ visual analogue scale.

RESULTS

When controlling for between-group differences in levels of physical activity (ANCOVA analysis), the dancers had significantly better balance, functional capacity and quality of life (all P < 0.05) compared to controls. No differences between the groups were observed in other measures of functional fitness.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest regular participation in set dancing is associated with health benefits for older adults. These results may inform future studies prospectively examining the role of set dancing for falls prevention, emotional well-being and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.