We have had students of all ages walk into my studio, with the most senior students upwards of 75. Age is just a number for them and me, and if you want something, it should make no difference how old you are. So if you are reading this article, you are probably an energetic spirit in need of some extra love and guidance on what’s the best dance to start with. So let’s figure it out together.
Tip #1: Take care of your knees.
People of any age can have knee problems, but most are common for seniors. Salsa is a better option if you have knee problems than Bachata because it focuses on forward and back movements, versus Bachata, which focuses on parallel movements. Salsa is basically like fast walking; consequently, If you have a knee injury, Salsa is the way to go.
Tip #2. Avoid dizziness and improve coordination.
If you are prone to dizziness and have coordination problems, Bachata is the best choice. In general, Bachata is a great way to start dancing for many reasons, for anyone and any age, particularly for seniors because Bachata is a low-impact dance. Moreover, in Bachata, coordination is a lot easier; you do fewer spins in Bachata, and the spins are slower than Salsa.
I would like to share that one of my favourite students, and although I won’t write her name, she knows who she is, has been with me for over two and a half years. She’s in her early 70s, and she started with Salsa; her experience was great, but then she began Bachata at my suggestion, and she loves it. She is crazy about it and just feels way more confident.
Bachata has a shorter learning curve than Salsa and is a lot more kind to students who are brand new that are starting later in their age.
Tip #3: Start moving and enjoy every minute on the dance floor.
The most important thing is just deciding to move more. Dance has proven for seniors to be the best form of exercise to slow things like Alzheimer’s and many other health complications because dance forces your brain to make new connections continually.
Unlike many sports, performance is not the goal when dancing Latin rhythms. On the contrary, you set your pace because what matters is enjoying the moment and connecting with your dance partner.
You can still practice many sports safely, from cycling to swimming, but I invite you to start dancing. It’s an excellent gateway for your physical and mental health. You also benefit from something intangible as it soothes your spirit. When you become part of the dance world, you feel part of a community that loves celebrating life. Especially right now in North America, with people, mainly seniors, being more and more isolated, having a community you can be a part of and feel connected to is extremely important.
I hope at some point, whatever your age is, I get to see you walk through the studio either as a student or as a social dancer, and we get to dance together.
I can’t wait to welcome you to our big family, have you coming in week to week, having fun, connecting with new friends and letting lose to amazing Latin songs. Click here to check our current schedule.
If you have any questions you would like me to answer here are some ways you can contact me: message me on Instagram (torontodanceSalsa), on Twitter (#torontodanceSalsa), on Facebook (Toronto Dance Salsa) or email me at [email protected].
