Baycrest NBS Sharing Dance Seniors at Home


Discover the joy of dance – from home! Baycrest and Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) are pleased to offer a free six-week dance course as a first phase of an exciting new pilot, which can be accessed from your home or wherever you are. This set of classes is designed to be accessible for older adults with varying physical and cognitive abilities. Classes are danced entirely from a seated position. Join us in embracing the transformative power of dance!


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ABOUT BAYCREST NBS SHARING DANCE SENIORS

Dance is for everyone! Developed by Baycrest and Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS), Sharing Dance Seniors is a safe and accessible dance program that engages older adults in meaningful dance activity that benefits physical, cognitive and overall health. Programming is delivered through the following methods:
 
  • For Dancers - Baycrest and Canada’s National Ballet School are pleased to offer a free six-week dance class as a first phase of an exciting new pilot, which can be accessed from your home or wherever you are. 
     
  • For Organizations - Baycrest NBS Sharing Dance Seniors delivers dance classes via video stream to communities across Canada. With the goal of providing the highest quality dance programming for seniors, an instructor from NBS will teach a class via video streaming from the studio in Toronto to a range of settings including community centres and retirement homes. Please note that this offering is currently on break for the summer. Contact sharingdance@nbs-enb.ca for information about future programming. 

You don’t have to have any dance experience. As long as you want to move to music, everyone is welcome.

— Dorothy "Dot" Gordon, over 90 years of age

Why Dance for Seniors?

Dance has so many benefits! Physical benefits of dancing in older adulthood may include (Keogh et al., 2009):

  • Improved aerobic power
  • Increased muscle endurance
  • More strength
  • Greater flexibility
  • Improved balance and gait
  • Increased bone-mineral content
  • Muscle power
  • Reduced risks of falls
  • Reduced cardiovascular health risks
Dance may also be emotionally and socially beneficial for older adults by helping to reduce isolation, encouraging a sense of community, and providing a space for creativity and artistic expression.