Thread: Geriatric dance class

I just volunteered to do a freeby once a month class as the local senior center. Any feedback on teachin' the old birds?

Hey - come to think of it......I am almost that age myself!

I've often wondered about this for seniors and possibly even wheelchair bound people - there are many beautiful gentle movements that could be done using the upper body. How wonderful to assist older women to connect with their femininity and beauty.

Never too late to be a Diva....

I used to teach at an adult school and several of my students were well into their 60s/early 70s.

(The tap teacher at the same school was in her mid-70s.)

Just teach as you would any other age group, accounting for a slightly limited range of motion, but other than that, same music, same moves, same joy that you give to the younger 'uns. ;0)

It depends partly on the senior center. In some towns, age 50 is the lower threshold to join, and age 50-ers typically aren't what I would think of as "geriatric". I recently taught a class for a local chapter of the Blue Thong Society (a club of women over age 50), and there was nothing geriatric about them at all!

My suggestion: Just teach the same way you teach any other age group. I would expect that with any other age group you'll pay attention to whether there are people with range-of-motion issues, needing to hear things repeated, having trouble keeping pace with you, etc, and you should watch for the same things with this group.

Knees, be very careful about knees. they get wonky with age.

Why do you assume that we have lost contact with our femininity and beauty? As other posters have pointed out,we older ladies are no different from you.....just older.

Originally Posted by Surida

I've often wondered about this for seniors and possibly even wheelchair bound elders - there are many beautiful gentle movements that could be done using the upper body. How wonderful to assist older women to connect with their femininity and beauty.

I just started a class myself at the local senior center!! What fun!! They are an over 60 crowd.....
I always tell the ladies to do the best they can, and if something bothers them, don't do it or ask me for a modified way to do it.
They seem to be very aware of what they can handle, and most of them just want to have a little fun and try something they never got to.

But they are spunky, I love it, and I actually have a lady that took belly dance as she says "many moons ago in a little studio on the corner owned by an itty bitty Middle Eastern woman that was just gorgeous and an incredible dancer" ..l;, She still has her old coin belt, and she hasn't lost her shimmy!
She picked right back up very easily!

I say just ask them---they most likely won't be afraid to tell you!

As an old biddie myself, I become increasingly annoyed by giggly and patronising attitudes to my age group.
Just come over from a discussion on OD prompted by a teacher's advertising her "Elder-Bellies" class...harumpht..double so..I have taught 16-70 year olds and consider this dance to be all-inclusive,
But if you are asked to teach seniors, don't insult them by expecting too little.
I can hold my own with much younger dancers and expect I will not match up to some older than me.
And try leaving off the ageist attitudes...try the same regarding gender and race and all hell lets loose but seems anyone can call us older ladies what you like and who the hell cares.

Originally Posted by anala

I just volunteered to do a freeby once a month class as the local senior center. Any feedback on teachin' the old birds?

Hey - come to think of it......I am almost that age myself!

"Old birds"-that is so wrong, lol. Believe it or not some of those oldies are more fit than the young folk.

Originally Posted by lizajuk

As an old biddie myself, I become increasingly annoyed by giggly and patronising attitudes to my age group.
Just come over from a discussion on OD prompted by a teacher's advertising her "Elder-Bellies" class...harumpht..double so..I have taught 16-70 year olds and consider this dance to be all-inclusive,

I've been approached about offering classes at our local senior center. The senior center would forbid me to accept students in that class who are under age 50 just because they don't want their seniors to feel intimidated by younger bodies. Therefore, if I do it, I'll need to market it as "age 50 and over".

So, while I agree with you that this dance is for all age groups, and I would prefer to offer an intergenerational class, if I teach at this venue I will be required to conform to the venue's rules regardless of what my own attitudes may be.

Whoops...self deprecating humor. Mea Culpa. *Bangs arthritic fist on saggy left boob...*

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I recently taught a class for a local chapter of the Blue Thong Society (a club of women over age 50), and there was nothing geriatric about them at all!

I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to be 'geriatric' in a club with that name...l;,

Age is just a number. If older women have the spunk & energy to dance, more power to them! There was an article in our local Sunday paper about a 99 1/2 yr old woman in Sturgis, MI who still plays golf three times a week. She averages 100 strokes for 18 holes & says she won't even take her clubs out of her car for 9 holes... playing just half a game is for sissies. She also still lives in her own home, still drives, and takes no prescription drugs. I only wish I had half her energy & spunk, and I'm less than half her age!

Originally Posted by anala

Whoops...self deprecating humor. Mea Culpa. *Bangs arthritic fist on saggy left boob...*

LOL, I knew you were gonna get spanked for the OP, Anala, but I also knew your response would be a hoot.

I agree with the general tenor of the responses--distilled into what was said upthread: don't expect too little! I was just in a class tonight with a woman who recently turned 70, and she rocked!

And Shira!! The "Blue Thong Society"??? Woot! *goes off to google*

As an even older biddie, I agree with you. We've raised this point so many times over the years and we never get a satisfactory answer. If anyone said they were thinking of starting a special class for fat/thin/black people and asked for tips on how to treat them then as you say all hell would be let loose, and rightly so. Yet people regularly ask this about teaching older people and nobody minds. (Except us of course!) Could some of you younger dancers tell us why you think it's OK to keep referring to us as if we were some strange alien species rather than people like yourselves?

Originally Posted by lizajuk

As an old biddie myself, I become increasingly annoyed by giggly and patronising attitudes to my age group.
Just come over from a discussion on OD prompted by a teacher's advertising her "Elder-Bellies" class...harumpht..double so..I have taught 16-70 year olds and consider this dance to be all-inclusive,
But if you are asked to teach seniors, don't insult them by expecting too little.
I can hold my own with much younger dancers and expect I will not match up to some older than me.
And try leaving off the ageist attitudes...try the same regarding gender and race and all hell lets loose but seems anyone can call us older ladies what you like and who the hell cares.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you are asked to teach in a venue that is specially for older people, of course the class is for older women/men,. Why then do you need to call it a class for Geriatrics,Old Biddies, Elder Bellies..it's just a belly dance class that happens to be in that venue.
I suspect the OP was designed to rattle us old birds.well it worked ,love!
I have only one consolation..if you are lucky -getting old is what happens to you so I hope when you get there people are a little more thoughtful and polite.
I am glad to say that here in Europe, it is now illegal not to employ on grounds of age just as much as gender or race. This is evident with the number of older people who chose to carry on working and those who have returned to work after 60.
Like most of us I hate being patronised, there is enough negativity directed towards belly dancers by the GP, shame one part of the belly dance world in west cannot be supportive of all its' community.
I directed folks on OD to the thread on mature dancers to counter a silly post on advertising a class for older dancers and lo what do you go and do here.
And my boobs DON'T sag (much)!..g.:

C'mon, guys, this is Anala you're responding to. She explained her use of "old birds" (it's a joke, folks); no need to continue the pile-on.

That said, y'all make some very good points about teaching older folks. I wouldn't be caught dead in a class called "Elder Bellies" or "Golden Tassels"--now or 10, 20 years from now. If I can't keep up, I'll just retreat to the back of the studio and do the best I can.

Originally Posted by jahbie

Why do you assume that we have lost contact with our femininity and beauty? As other posters have pointed out,we older ladies are no different from you.....just older.

You're right - generalizatons are never good. I work in elder law and unfortunately often see elders with serious problems (physical, mental, abuse, family, etc. . .) My comment came from the elders that I work with every day - not the many other more mature women that I know who are leading very healthy "normal" lives.

I was trying to say that I have thought about trying to reach out wth dance to those women who have lost their spunk and excitement for life - I believe that this dance can be and is a life saver.

Originally Posted by Surida

I believe that this dance can be and is a life saver.

Absolutely! At 47 I can't imagine what my life would be like had I not found this dance nearly thirteen years ago. My Mom, who will soon be 71, dances with me twice a week (and has substituted as teacher for me on occasion). She has always been active and has danced all her life, but credits bellydance with keeping her flexible and strong. She started dancing after I dragged her to Rakkasah in 1997...and we saw a white-haired lady using a walker get up on stage during open dance and shimmy away.

Anala, I've had several women over 60 join my classes; as with any student, you watch how they move and you can see where their physical issues lie. I think you are wonderful to volunteer to share this gift.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I've been approached about offering classes at our local senior center. The senior center would forbid me to accept students in that class who are under age 50 just because they don't want their seniors to feel intimidated by younger bodies. Therefore, if I do it, I'll need to market it as "age 50 and over".

So, while I agree with you that this dance is for all age groups, and I would prefer to offer an intergenerational class, if I teach at this venue I will be required to conform to the venue's rules regardless of what my own attitudes may be.

I agree that this dance is for all ages, but mine has to be a "Senior" class due to the fact it is help at the Township Senior Center, which you obviously must be a Senior (over 60) to use---they offer whatever programs the Seniors request, and it is FREE to all of them. Everything! Not only is an incredible facility---but I wish there were more of them! The park district I teach for
sponsors all the fitness programs there---showed them the catalog, and let them pick what they want. I was flattered when I found out they wanted
bellydance! And I've had many of them tell me it's just something they always wanted to try.......but I have always had women of all ages in my
classes in other locations.

This is not about what dancers call themselves nor about the value of classes held in venues frequented by seniors It's about attitude.
You see if I cracked a joke/was patronising/sneery or dismissive about a black dancer or a larger dancer or a male dancer I would be condemned but it is Ok to do so to an older dancer it seems.
Sorry to bang on but does anyone get my drift.
The only person I consider able to laugh at being old is Joan Rivers and I will laugh with her until I cry. But we share being old and laughing with is different ffrom an attitude which belittled the idea of older people dancing. You have all seen those fabulous dancers on the photo thread so what gives that suddenly older dancers are geriatrics and old birds and need putting in touch with their feminine side!
No I haven't lost my sense of humour I just want ageism to be consdered as serious and tackled as well as racism, sizeism, sexism etc.

Regardless of what you call it, if these ladies are older and NOT that fit, you do have to adjust how you teach your class.

Some ladies will be just like any other student you have; some ladies might have back, knee, or other joint issues. Offer them chairs to hold onto for balance, but don't single them out. When you have them stretch, make sure they understand what they are stretching and how to safely do it. Stress the posture and take lots of breaks to stretch their lower backs.


Usually they are not at all self conscious about it and really want to have fun. If you can bring a bunch of hipscarves-great!

I really enjoyed my senior class. I was surprised that they enjoyed repeating the same movements every class, but they did. I heard that the ladies talked about it through out the week until the next lesson. Due to extenuating circumstances, I had to leave them in the hands of another teacher and I miss them.

Originally Posted by SandraDances

Some ladies will be just like any other student you have; some ladies might have back, knee, or other joint issues. When you have them stretch, make sure they understand what they are stretching and how to safely do it. Stress the posture and take lots of breaks to stretch their lower backs.

I think Liz's point (and I agree) is that these issues aren't confined to people over 50, or over 60, or...

I messed up my back when I was age 17 in a car accident and have had back issues ever since. I had a 19-year-old friend in college with bad knees due to a skiing accident. I knew a woman in her 30's who had trouble raising her arms due to recovering from a mastectomy.

Most of my current students are in their 20's, and guess what - I take frequent breaks to stretch the lower backs because lots of belly dance moves really work the lower back in a way that people aren't used to doing.

Younger people also need to be told what they are stretching and how to safely do it.

There's no guarantee that even people who use the gym on a regular basis are knowledgeable about how to exercise safely. Just because they know how to plop their butts onto the seat of a weight machine doesn't mean they're using proper form when they start to move the weight.

A good teacher will be alert to the special needs of everyone in her classroom, regardless of age, and she won't assume that her younger students are all perfectly fit, perfectly healthy, and perfectly well-informed on how to exercise safely.

What do you mean "old birds"?????? I'm 56 and still feel like a young chick!!!!!

You know what is rather ironic about this spanking, Liza (who loves you, baby? me!) is that I used a light hearted British term (I love the way you guys use the English language.. its so .... English) in a tounge and cheek way, since I am 53 and no spring chicken myself.

Jeez guys...you would have thought I just said lipstick and pig in the same sentence....give me a break!

The only person I consider able to laugh at being old is Joan Rivers and I will laugh with her until I cry

Now, while I am no Joan Rivers...I can, and often do make fun of myself. Why is she the only one thats allowed? If I were 25, no way would I have said that. But I am past a half century...and if I want to crack a very small joke
about age amoung friends...

PS Been posting daily for almost a year and I finally got flamed wooohooo...am I a member of the family now?

Originally Posted by anala

I just volunteered to do a freeby once a month class as the local senior center. Any feedback on teachin' the old birds?

.......... they can handle it, their feathers are not so easily ruffled ...... bring it on, they will do you proud ....

My oldest student suddenly collapsed (I thought) ..... turns out she was doing a perfect ballet split ....... (she was stretching to limber up a bit while the young ones were chattering away ...... and she was ready for "the works" -- they were not 'cause all they had limbered up was their mouths ......)

Nice....that made me laugh!

PS -- should any of those "old birds" need to borrow an Eman bird costume to perform in, you know where to find me .......

Originally Posted by anala

You know what is rather ironic about this spanking, Liza (who loves you, baby? me!) is that I used a light hearted British term (I love the way you guys use the English language.. its so .... English) in a tounge and cheek way, since I am 53 and no spring chicken myself.

Jeez guys...you would have tought I just said lipstick and pig in the same sentence....give me a break!

The only person I consider able to laugh at being old is Joan Rivers and I will laugh with her until I cry

Now, while I am no Joan Rivers...I can, and often do make fun of myself. Why is she the only one thats allowed? If I were 25, no way would I have said that. But I am past a half century...and if I want to crack a very small joke
about age amoung friends...

PS Been posting daily for almost a year and I finally got flamed wooohooo...am I a member of the family now?

I thought that your comment was meant to be a light hearted joke. I can see why you would ask tho. I use to care for a senior adult who was autistic. I would take her to the senior center for exercise classes twice a week. Although the classes were taught almost the same as any other class, I would say that the instructor gave more options for variations on different exercises to accomadate for different needs. In regular classes, you would normally have to express "I have a bad back" so that the instructor gives a modification during class. I didn't see anything wrong with asking for tips. I think that it would be most helpful to hear how to modify moves for people who have had hip/knee replacements, arthritis, etc. I don't think it is the way you express yourself in class or even the moves you teach that you need help with (this was my impression anyway) but more what problems you might expect to encounter. I wish I had the expereince to help you out in that respect, but I don't.

Thanks, Linny...you hit the nail on the head. That was the type of info I was looking for.

Is it a yellow Eman?