As part of the Dance & Health Annual Symposium, organised by Quand On Danse, the Mosa Ballet School hosted an essential training course for specialist teachers and artists: ‘Dance, Health and Ageing’. The course, led by dance and health specialist Clare Guss-West, focused on dance practice for older people (60-90+), with the aim of offering them an adapted and accessible approach to improving their physical and mental well-being.
Training tailored to the needs of senior dancers
Dance for seniors is an enriching and beneficial practice from every point of view, regardless of age or physical condition. This training course enabled teaching artists and dance teachers to discover specific strategies and techniques for supporting seniors in their practice. Participants learned how to :
Improving physical movement
Work on range of movement, balance, fluidity and endurance.
Boosting attention and concentration
Using language adapted to the needs of seniors to make it easier to learn movement techniques.
Stimulating creativity and risk-taking
By introducing creative improvisation to stimulate participants' memory, reaction time and decision-making skills.
Structuring dance exercises
To promote brain health and combat dementia.
This comprehensive approach enables seniors not only to improve their mobility, but also to keep their minds sharp and active, while reducing the risk of falls and other accidents.
‘In just 3 hours of training, we opened up an incredible wealth of knowledge about the benefits of dance for everyone. Alternating theory and practice, Clare gave us the knowledge we need to create a dance class that is as adapted as possible to the audience. All with exercises that combine coordination, memory and fun: a happy cocktail that appeals to all generations.’
Dance for seniors: at the heart of Quand On Danse's missions
At Quand On Danse, we firmly believe that dance is for everyone, at every age. Dance for seniors is at the heart of our mission, and in collaboration with partners such as the CHC Health Group, we have developed a programme of regular workshops in 9 nursing homes, where we offer adapted dance classes.
These workshops, led by professional dancers trained in adapted dance, sometimes take place several times a month and have a significant impact on the well-being of participants, helping them to reconnect with their bodies and improve their quality of life.
The CHC Health Group was one of the first partners to support our initiatives. They agreed to be a pilot site for dance workshops in homes for the elderly. Thanks to them, we have been able to test and improve these workshops, which are now guaranteed to continue. We are proud of this partnership, which enables us to offer many moments of well-being to senior citizens, in a respectful and caring way.
Quand On Danse: A constantly evolving programme
At Quand On Danse, we continue to develop our activities to meet the needs of older people, with the aim of expanding our programme and making dance ever more accessible to those who need it. We believe in the transformative impact of dance and its power to enhance physical and mental well-being, regardless of age.
The ‘Dance, Health and Ageing’ training course, led by Clare Guss-West, is a perfect example of how we are working to make dance more inclusive and beneficial for everyone. Once again, we would like to thank Clare and the participants for their commitment to this cause, as well as our partners, such as the CHC Health Group, for their invaluable support in setting up our workshops in nursing homes.
Join the movement!
Si vous êtes enseignant de danse, professionnel de la santé ou simple passionné de danse, nous vous invitons à découvrir l'impact de la danse sur les personnes âgées. Si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur nos ateliers ou rejoindre notre réseau,
Photo credit Quand on Danse - dance workshop at the CHC Mativa residence
Découvrez en plus sur le Groupe santé CHC par ici.