At 95 years old, Willetton resident Shirley is still finding joy in dance.
Despite living with arthritis and needing a walker to get around, Shirley attends Lifespan Dance’s seated dance classes each week at the Rostrata Centre, where she enjoys the music and company of others.
“I have arthritis and I can’t walk very far without a walker, and I’m 95 so I think I’m doing pretty well,” she said.
The classes, run by Lifespan Dance, are now in their second term in Willetton and attract between 20 and 30 people each week.
Shirley said she first heard about the program after previously attending Zumba classes at the centre.
“I had a message from Ross, because I used to do Zumba there, so they got in touch with me last year,” she said.
She said she joined as soon as she heard about it.
“I’d say mentally and socially, because I enjoy it so much, you can sort of move to music,” Shirley said.
“When you’re living without a partner, you’ve got no one to dance with, so it gives you an excuse to dance.”
She added that the social side of the class was just as important, while acknowledging “moving to music” as what she enjoyed most.
She has already recommended the classes to others.
“Oh, yes, definitely,” she said.
“I am very grateful that it’s available.”
Lifespan Dance director and lead teacher Paige Gordon said the classes began in 2019 and have since been held in dance studios, aged care homes, hospitals and community settings.
The seated dance classes are based on the Dance for Parkinson’s methodology, with teachers trained to support people living with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other conditions that affect mobility.
Ms Gordon said seated dance gave people a safe and supported way to move.
“The research demonstrates the power of dance, in that the brain is engaged as the body moves, and when the body is moving with others, our sense of self-value and joy increases,” she said.
“Seated dance offers the opportunity to move the body in a safe and supported space, your chair, so anyone who has mobility requirements can still engage with the movement and the rhythms of the music.”
The Willetton classes were initially supported through a Launch Grant from Dance for PD in New York.
Lifespan Dance has also received support from Dance for Parkinson’s Australia and the City of Canning, which covers studio costs, helping the classes continue through Term 2 and hopefully beyond.
Ms Gordon said staff at the Rostrata Centre had also been welcoming and supportive.
The weekly classes are held on Mondays from 10am to 11am at the Rostrata Centre in Willetton, with carers and family members welcome to attend.
Participants can stay afterwards for a cup of tea, biscuits and a chat.
