Ausdance Victoria is the Peak Body for Dance in the state. We work to:

• Communicate the valuable contribution dance makes to the lives of all Australians.
• Support sustainable careers through industry partnerships and skills development programs.
• Share best practice standards for safe dance, teaching methodology and business practice.
• Foster international networks that provide career opportunities for Australian dance artists.
• Encourage discussion about the value and purpose of dance by publishing writing, research and good news.

Research project aims

We know that dance promotes creativity, community engagement, health and wellbeing. With an ageing population and subsequent increases in health and social issues, the dance sector has a vital role to play in creative ageing contexts.

In the past year, Ausdance Victoria has received many requests for information about dance programs for older people*. At present, this information is elusive. We know people are out there working, but we don’t know who you are!

In response, we aim to produce a snapshot of the dance for older people field in Australia, focusing on 3 main areas:

• Dance programs/activities for older people*
  
  • Active and agile - an older person who is ambulant, physically active and is able to move limbs relatively quickly and easily
  • Active and ambulant - an older person who is physically active but lacks the ability to move quickly
  • Ambulant with health conditions and/or mobility restrictions - an older person who is able to live independently, with or without some assistance.  This person is ambulant, though may use mobility aids.  They have a loss of mobility or physical restriction, which may be due to illness, surgery, particular health conditions** or from other aspects of the ageing process***.
  • People in care facilities - this may include aged care, hospices, hospitals, day respite or care centres
• Available training/professional development
• Publicly available resources

We will do this by:

1. Conducting a desk review of programs and PD we know to exist
2. Exploring the literature from peer reviewed publications
3. Consulting with dance professionals
4. Consulting with other Peak Bodies (COTA - Council of the Ageing, LASA - Leading Age Services Australia, Alzheimer’s Australia, Dance for Parkinson’s, Arthritis Australia, etc.)
5. Collating information from this survey

 

 

The result

1. We anticipate that the result of this work will be a database that provides us with information about the scale and scope of Dance for Older People programs in Australia.
2. We will be able to see the kinds of professional development opportunities currently available and be able to determine where the gaps are, if any.
3. We will be able to share this information with your local Ausdance branch and they can work with you to meet your professional development needs or support creative ageing communities of practice.

 

 

We need you to:

• Contribute to this important research
• Help us to build a picture of the dance for older people field, throughout Australia
• Provide us with information about your programs so that we can build a searchable database which
  
  • Helps others to access your programs and be able to contact you
  • Allows Ausdance to support you through communities of practice

 

Please pass this survey onto relevant others.

 

 

 

*Please note: dance programs for older dancers may include those under 65 years, as some people self-identify as being older.

** Such as neurological conditions, stroke, dementia, heart and lung conditions, diabetes or obesity

*** Such as arthritis, osteoporosis, reduced joint mobility, reduced muscle strength and flexibility

Definitions

• Active and agile - an older person* who is ambulant, physically active and is able to move limbs relatively quickly and easily
• Active and ambulant - an older person who is physically active but lacks the ability to move quickly
• Ambulant with health conditions and/or mobility restrictions - an older person who is able to live independently, with or without some assistance. This person is ambulant, though may use mobility aids. They have a loss of mobility or physical restriction, which may be due to illness, surgery, particular health conditions** or from other aspects of the ageing process***.
• People in care facilities - this may include aged care, hospices, hospitals, day respite or care centres

*Please note: dance programs for older dancers may include those under 65 years, as some people self-identify as being older.

** Such as neurological conditions, stroke, dementia, heart and lung conditions, diabetes or obesity

*** Such as arthritis, osteoporosis, reduced joint mobility, reduced muscle strength and flexibility

 

Definitions

• Active and agile - an older person* who is ambulant, physically active and is able to move limbs relatively quickly and easily
• Active and ambulant - an older person who is physically active but lacks the ability to move quickly
• Ambulant with health conditions and/or mobility restrictions - an older person who is able to live independently, with or without some assistance. This person is ambulant, though may use mobility aids. They have a loss of mobility or physical restriction, which may be due to illness, surgery, particular health conditions** or from other aspects of the ageing process***.
• People in care facilities - this may include aged care, hospices, hospitals, day respite or care centres

 

*Please note: dance programs for older dancers may include those under 65 years, as some people self-identify as being older.

** Such as neurological conditions, stroke, dementia, heart and lung conditions, diabetes or obesity

*** Such as arthritis, osteoporosis, reduced joint mobility, reduced muscle strength and flexibility

 

Definitions

• Active and agile - an older person* who is ambulant, physically active and is able to move limbs relatively quickly and easily
• Active and ambulant - an older person who is physically active but lacks the ability to move quickly
• Ambulant with health conditions and/or mobility restrictions - an older person who is able to live independently, with or without some assistance. This person is ambulant, though may use mobility aids. They have a loss of mobility or physical restriction, which may be due to illness, surgery, particular health conditions** or from other aspects of the ageing process***.
• People in care facilities - this may include aged care, hospices, hospitals, day respite or care centres

 

* Please note: dance programs for older dancers may include those under 65 years, as some people self-identify as being older.

** Such as neurological conditions, stroke, dementia, heart and lung conditions, diabetes or obesity

*** Such as arthritis, osteoporosis, reduced joint mobility, reduced muscle strength and flexibility

 

Definitions

• Active and agile - an older person* who is ambulant, physically active and is able to move limbs relatively quickly and easily
• Active and ambulant - an older person who is physically active but lacks the ability to move quickly
• Ambulant with health conditions and/or mobility restrictions - an older person who is able to live independently, with or without some assistance. This person is ambulant, though may use mobility aids. They have a loss of mobility or physical restriction, which may be due to illness, surgery, particular health conditions** or from other aspects of the ageing process***.
• People in care facilities - this may include aged care, hospices, hospitals, day respite or care centres

 

* Please note: dance programs for older dancers may include those under 65 years, as some people self-identify as being older.

** Such as neurological conditions, stroke, dementia, heart and lung conditions, diabetes or obesity

*** Such as arthritis, osteoporosis, reduced joint mobility, reduced muscle strength and flexibility

 

If you have information on more dance programs/classes for older people please contact us: ausdance.vic@ausdance.org.au so that we can get in touch with you personally.

If you have information on more dance programs/classes for older people please contact us: ausdance.vic@ausdance.org.au so that we can get in touch with you personally.