Thread: Advice on a senior center class program?

I've just been hired by a senior center to do a monthly bellydance class. I'm not sure yet how many students there will be (the center's running a sort of health fair that I'll be present at to demonstrate and generate interest). I've done one-off senior programs, but never a regular class for seniors (alhtough i've had plenty of individual seniors in my regular classes).

Any words of wisdom from those who have taught in similar programs?

As a 50-something, I can tell you knees get much creakier and fragile with age.

Having had students of all ages - and several that are well over 60, I would suggest keeping everything slower (traveling steps), low impact (keep hip drops on very short drill sets), easy warm up, longer cool down, small combinations that are repetitive work well, my favorite thing to do is to teach several steps and then have them work in small groups to put together mini choreographies using only the new steps used - my students love these cause it really makes them feel like they are getting something out of the class.

I've been teaching a seniors class during our snowbird season for the past few years. What seems to work for me is to take everything a little slower but other than that we do the exact same things we do in the evening classes. Remember to take your time with them. Thier range of motion and flexablity is not going to be remotely the same as yours. I spent a lot of time going over posture and emphasising how much good it can do them if they practice it from day to day. I don't worry too much over how much we accomplish per class. If I have five things planned and we end up only getting three done, no big deal. These are hobbiests who are looking for exersise and to have fun doing it. So long as they are moving and having fun I don't sweat over if it's tecnically perfect.
I do take the time to modify moves on a per studnet basis to accomadate things like hip, knee, shoulder, hand, and feet issues. The most important thing is to listen to them when they tell you they have a physical issue that might effect how they move and then find ways around it. For example I have a gal who has shoulder issues and can't raise her arms enough to really do snake arms. So while we do snake arms she does low arm waves framing her hips. I do everything I can to keep them from injuring themselves.
I've also found with my students at least, they love playing with canes and veils. Swords and zills not so much. Short choreographies are a big hit too.
Hope this helps!

I haven't run a seniors class as such, but my 'older' ladies in class are often the ones with the least inhibitions when it comes to improvising. So all dancing in a circle at the end of a class, or getting them travelling down the middle of two lines, can be great fun. I agree that playing with canes or veils is also popular, but not spinning with those veils! You have to work more on non-spinning or slow-turning moves, as balance dizziness seems to become more of a problem with age.

Last term I taught a saiidi-style dance in my class with more mature women, and they just loved it. The sassy, less precise styling really suited the ladies, and they just loved working on a (simple) choreography. I repeated combos a lot, but sometimes in a circle, sometimes facing the front. We starting off pretending to mill around a market place and they really got into the play aspect of it.

I'm sure you'll have such a fun class!

Just don't assume anything.
I leave most of my class saying..."er are you hyper to night or what?" and I'm 60 .
So yes be aware we oldies are falling apart gradually.
We need a longer warm up and we will have a history of health to consider. Have a look at medical advice on the effects of aging and consider these. Disease such as arthritis, asthma and old injuires.
But some older gals will have exercised and be quite fit so don't insult them by determining to keep it soooo slow and simple 'til you meet 'em.

I'd have Plan B in case you find you have a bunch of fitness fanatics .

Just don't patronize us...we ain't feeble just yet.
Girls, some of your comment reads just a tad so.....

thank you for all the input and advice ladies!! Lizajuk, after seeing what my 88 year old grandmother can do on a dance floor (let alone some of our 60+ bellydance legends), I never assume those older than me can't move.

I did forget to mention that this particular senior center is an independent living community with senior services, in other words, the residents can still take care of themselves on a day-to-day basis, so I'm sure I'll be dealing with all levels of health here, so taking into account typical issues that come with aging and medical histories/personal challenges of the students makes a lot of sense to me.

Unless there's a retired pro in the community (I'm almost counting on it), these will all be relative beginners to the dance, so I'll be moving pretty slowly in the first few lessons anyway... this will give me time to gauge the level of intensity they can or are willing to handle. The programs director seemed particularly interested in the health benefits of getting them dancing, so I'm thinking of focusing a lot on healthy posture and muscle isolations, but of course, while doing little combinations and changing the style up every month.

Thanks again for all the tips...willing to hear more!!

This sounds like it's going to be a great class! I've ended up with a few seniors at my classes and the are very willing to take on whatever they can!
It seems that they are much more in tune with their bodies sometimes then we "youngsters" are, and can easily gauge what they can do---so I would ask them for their input too.
I had an 88 year old in my class that walked with a cane---she was there on approval from her doctor---he told her she had to keep moving and she's always wanted to try bellydancing! She told me "I may not be able to walk without help, or move around the room with you, but I can stand here and shimmy!!!"
She was then the first one to buy a coin belt!!!..l;,
I'm sure they will enjoy whatever you throw at them, and that alone will be
a big part of the health benfit for them........

Remember to teach posture and protection for their back - if they pull something, they may not be back next month - take it slow and you'll have a blast!

I have a few "seniors" in my classes and most of my dancers are somewhere in the middle (30's-50's). I always give them options. I teach a move and call it "level one" and then modify it a bit and explain that it is now "level 2" and so on.

Usually the "level one" version of a move is flat footed (as opposed to on releve), a tad slower paced with simple arms. The "level two" version may be on releve, faster paced or layered with arm/chest/head movements. The "level three" version of a move is usually reserved for my intermediate students who like to challenge themselves--it's basically what I might use in my own choreography or improv. The students seem to know their limitations and while they may all try a more difficult version, they usually settle into the version of the move that works best for their bodies.

I've also taught warm-ups and stretching while seated on a chair because one lady had a knee replacement. When the room is very cold, I also prefer to not do floor stretching. On the flip side, when a room is too warm, I might do more floorwork and slower paced standing drills. Some times it just depends on who comes to class that night.

I find that some of the older students have trouble with remembering choreography so we rehearse a lot (which is good for everyone). They like the music extra loud and prefer to have me count for them. Some cannot turn their necks very far--which impacts their ability to see the dancers around them--so we focus on stretching our necks in the beginning of class.

On the plus side, they love to visit with each other, shop for pretty belly dance accessories and seem to appreciate my silly sense of humor. I try to compliment their efforts as much as possible and they seem to feel really good about what they are able to do in class. Some have been dancing in one form or another all of their lives and have wonderful stories to tell. I'm sure you will have a blast teaching your class. :o)

Originally Posted by Amaryllis

Having had students of all ages - and several that are well over 60, I would suggest keeping everything slower (traveling steps), low impact (keep hip drops on very short drill sets), easy warm up, longer cool down, small combinations that are repetitive work well, my favorite thing to do is to teach several steps and then have them work in small groups to put together mini choreographies using only the new steps used - my students love these cause it really makes them feel like they are getting something out of the class.

has anyone got any short choreograhies written down I'd love to learn some,x

I taught for several years at a Senior Center. My classes were small and intimate. Over time we became close in some ways too close. My advice is to teach simple choreography. Be prepared to repeat and repeat our memories aren't always as sharp with age. No harsh isolation movements to avoid putting stress the their back, hip joints and knees. Continue to monitor posture. Be very patient and realize that once your students fall in love with the dance they are some of the most dedicated students you'll find anywhere. The women loved performing as long as I performed and years later these women are still part of my life.