Dancing at Any Age, Part One: General Tips

I've heard a lot of talk about seniors lately, and usually the language is one of limitation: "They always want to dance with the younger dancers.", "I can't change jobs - I'm too old to find another".

It makes me doubly sad when the limiting talk comes from a senior themselves, because I know where they learned it from. And I don't accept it. Why not? Because I've seen too many people buck the trend.

I've danced with women over a hundred. I've competed with a 60-year-old with multiple sclerosis in one foot. I refuse to accept my life - or anyone else's - is done at 55.

I'll be honest - this vlog isn't just for you. It's for me in the future, in the gradually dwindling time before I get to call myself a "senior". And when that day comes, I intend to accept that mantle with pride, NOT resignation.

Transcript: 

Hi folks! My name is Ian Crewe. I'm an instructor at the Joy of Dance Centre in Toronto, Ontario, and the creator of Social Ballroom Dance: Where you can learn your dance, at your place, on your schedule.

In many genres, dance is considered a bit of a younger person's sport. True, ballroom dancing tends to draw a more mature clientele, but even here, the younger crowd is often the more popular.

It doesn't help that, as we grow older we often develop health issues which can make it more difficult to dance at a level that we're happy with.

But then you hear about people who defy the odds who remain spry and nimble into their 90's or later, and who remains some of the most popular dancers at a social. How do these people do this?

We know these people exist because, well, I have both met and danced with them. Kaitlyn and I often go to retirement homes and do evening entertainment for example, and we're often amazed at how mobile some of  these residents are.

And I myself have danced, performed, and even competed with students who never thought that they would get as far as they did in their age.

Now obviously it's important to know your situation - I mean I'm not recommending that you just jump in to say, learning a fast salsa if you've recently had a hip replacement.

But assuming that you're in reasonable health, there's no reason why you can't become both an accomplished and a popular dancer. So let's start this month's theme by looking at some general tips on how to get you there.

First, start now! The sooner you get into dancing, the more likely you'll be able to enjoy it later in life. Remember that quote about how every time you smoke a cigarette, it subtracts four minutes off of your life? Well, learning dancing can add minutes, or even years, but the more you dance and the sooner you start, the more of that benefit you'll get.

Also start small. A big change in physical activity is stressful for anybody, let alone one that is getting on in years so I recommend starting small with say, a single lesson a week, with a lower impact dance like waltz or rumba. Remember, if you treat your body respectfully, you'll will be more able to scale up your practicing without risk of injury.

Trust your instincts: Some people will tell you that you're too old to do this or that. It's important to remember that YOU are the master of your own body, and that if you want to dance, you can go dance! You have to decide whether or not you feel the benefits, the rewards are worth those risks.

Know your body. If you have any past injuries, torn ligaments or strained knees or ankles; if you have any balance issues, make sure that you are especially careful when moving a part of your body that will activate those issues when you're dancing - and make sure that your partner knows about those issues too.

Consider combining your dance practice with strength training. The more fit your body is, the longer it can dance without risk of injury. Try lower impact activities like swimming, Pilates, yoga, or even just taking longer walks.

And finally, be patient! Fact is, you might learn a little more slowly than the younger dancers. Don't compare yourself to anybody but the person you were yesterday, because ultimately, it doesn't matter how good you get: There's always gonna be somebody better than you, and there'll be somebody worse than you.

So that's all we have for this week. Next week we're gonna talk about how senior dancers can make wise decisions about the studio they go to, and how they can get the most from their lessons while they're there.

So I look forward to seeing you then. If you had any questions or comments, you can message me on my Facebook fan page, Ballroom Dancers Anonymous, or you can email me at ian@socialballroom.dance, again that's ian@socialballroom.dance.

Have yourself a fabulous week and until next time happy dancing!