ERIC Number: EJ1470881
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2373-4822
EISSN: EISSN-2373-4841
Available Date: 0000-00-00
"Tappin' Thru Time": Engaging Older Adults in the Dance Studio
Mary Ann Kluge1; Gloria Latimer1; Paige Whitney1
Dance Education in Practice, v11 n1 p14-21 2025
There is great potential for dance studios to offer more tap dancing classes with older participants in mind. The purpose of this article is to share how adult tap classes at our studio are designed to meet older adults' needs and the benefits these classes have from the points of view of 14 dancers between the ages of 48 to 79. To find out how these classes were taught and why these women tap dance at this time in their lives, we observed beginner and intermediate-level classes and conducted individual interviews and a focus group. This article presents the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional benefits these dancers described as well as recommendations they made regarding class content and teacher characteristics. Offering classes at "down times" in the morning, providing a safe, welcoming environment that is nonjudgmental and supportive of students as new or "new again" learners, and having an instructor that is the same (or similar) age who respectfully paces new learning and focuses on progress, not perfection, are main takeaways from these interviews.
Descriptors: Adults, Older Adults, Dance, Preferences, Classroom Environment, Student Attitudes, Dance Education, Adult Education, Learner Engagement
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA