Older adults with dementia are putting on their dancing shoes and challenging stigma

Currently, around 750,000 people in Canada are living with dementia. As Canada's population ages, this number is expected to reach one million by 2030.

With no cure for most types of dementia, how can we support people living with the condition?

This is where the Sharing Dance Older Adults program comes in, created by Canada's National Ballet School in partnership with Baycrest Health Sciences.

"I'm a scientist, but my first way of knowing is as an artist, as a dancer," says Dr. Rachel Bar, a lifelong dancer who helped lead the program's development, now Director of Research and Health at Canada's National Ballet School.

The Sharing Dance Older Adults program brings dance to older adults living with dementia, challenging the stigma associated with the condition and supporting social inclusion and creative self-expression.

Dance classes are offered both in-person and virtually: "In your seat" classes for participants with mobility challenges and "On your feet" options for those who are more mobile. The goal isn't for participants to nail every step or sequence. Instead, the program embraces imaginative and playful engagement, encouraging participants to inject their own creativity into their dancing and have fun.

The program has been offered in person since 2013. For more than five years, it has also streamed dance sessions to retirement homes, long-term care facilities, and community spaces across Canada, engaging approximately 15,000 people to date.

The program also captured the attention of Dr. Pia Kontos, a dementia researcher at KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, who helped evaluate the program.

The key takeaway from their evaluation: people living with dementia can still flourish. The dance opportunities have nurtured a sense of accomplishment in participants and promote engagement with others. Dance is also an outlet to express emotion, especially for people living with dementia who may have a harder time communicating verbally.

"The stigma related to people living with dementia is pretty pronounced," says Dr. Kontos. "As such, people are always surprised at the creativity, humour, and joy that is expressed by people living with dementia who dance."

Drs. Bar and Kontos are now leading a research team, with CIHR funding, to expand the program to better reflect Canada's cultural diversity. They are collaborating with dance artists and leaders from Black, Chinese, and South Asian communities, the three largest racialized groups in the country, to offer dance opportunities that include culturally relevant aesthetics, music, rhythm, and storytelling.

"This is a team effort," says Dr. Bar. "Without the knowledge of researchers, community members, and artists, we would not be able to achieve our goals for this project."

At a glance

Issue

More than 750,000 people in Canada are living with dementia and are highly stigmatized, leading to isolation and missed opportunities for connection.

Research

A unique program called Sharing Dance Older Adults is bringing dance to people living with dementia, creating opportunities for meaningful self-expression and inclusion.

Related links

• Sharing Dance Older Adults