Dance & Movement

February 2026

Beginning Tuesday, Feb 3rd, Friends Village will be hosting a dance class on Tuesdays and Thursdays! This program will feature different styles of dance and music, modified for accessibility and enjoyment!

EDIT 2/3/26: The Friends Village has been postponed until the month of May. We apologize for the inconvenience.

But did you know that dance and movement is more than just fun? Dancing is a safe and effective daily exercise for older adults!

Dance has various benefits for older adults, including mental and physical health, and it is also an enjoyable way to increase and improve social interactions.

Physical Benefits

• Balance

• Mobility

• Cardiovascular health - it increases heart rate, getting more oxygen moving through the body

• Energy - dancing stimulates the production of feel-good hormones, such as serotonin and endorphins

• Flexibility

• Muscular strength & endurance

• Increases bone mass, thus enhancing bone strength

• Better weight management

Dance can improve muscular strength and endurance, as well as balance. It builds muscle strength in almost every part of the body, increasing your ability to go about daily tasks with less chance of injury or falling due to frailty.

The more you move (dance), the more you are able to move (in general).

Older adults who dance socially show greater balance than nondancers; additionally, dancing improves posture, reaction times, resting heart rates, and physical functioning.

Mental Benefits

Physical activity can help reduce stress and lower depression and anxiety levels.

Dance also offers opportunity for social interaction by meeting new people in an enjoyable environment, helping reduce feelings of stress and loneliness.

Research shows that 1-2 hours of dancing per week shows cognitive improvement, especially for those who experience mild cognitive impairment! Factors contributing to this may include the coordination required in dancing, socialization, music, and the ability to relieve symptoms of depression.