Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Adult dancers may begin dancing later in life or continue a lifelong practice from youth. Regardless of the motivations that inspire participation, engaging in dance classes offers multiple physical and mental health benefits that support wellness as we age. These benefits may be closely interconnected from both the dancer’s and the teacher’s perspectives. In this article, the authors, a maturing recreational ballet dancer and a dance pedagogue, use Donald Schön’s (Citation1991) reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action framework to explore their experiences of dancing while aging. Their reflections reveal a shared love of dance and show that for learners and teachers, social connections and acceptance of aging selves serve as gateways to safety and well-being in the studio. The sense of safety and well-being, in turn, manifests as feelings of belonging, self-worth, and profound joy. This suggests that encouraging maturing dancers and teachers to engage in structured critical reflection can support physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being as we age.
Source: Dance Education in Practice
Authors: Steph Clout, Jennifer Nikolai
Institution: Auckland University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7212740535