Judy Taylor discovered dance later in life, but it has now become a source of joy, energy, and purpose.
Under the guidance of dance teachers, women over the age of 55 come together to move and connect with one another.Judy Taylor, 79, has been going to the Still Dancing classes for four years. Judy Taylor, 79, came to dance five years ago.
Supplied: Aaron Ashley, Dancenorth"At the beginning I had no idea that this would be a thing for me. I didn't know how to move and in fact I didn't like the way I moved," Ms Taylor said.Andi Gillham, Dancenorth's community class coordinator, said she has seen the community grow from classes of half a dozen regulars to 30 people. "It is basically just a slower-paced class for people that want to revisit dancing, or if they're injured, or just want a general experience in a dance environment," she said.Dancenorth's Andi Gillham and Amber Haines say a beautiful community has evolved around the classes.Unlike Ms Taylor, 84-year-old Peggy Robertson has been a dancer for most of her life, having studied ballet in her younger years."There you have to concentrate very much on all your movements, here you can just follow your body," Ms Robertson said. "Nobody judges you. It just makes you feel so good."Amber Haines, the co-artistic director of the company, described the group as "open and explanatory".Peggy Robertson has danced her whole life, but says contemporary classes have given her a new appreciation of movement.Supplied: Aaron Ashley, DancenorthShe said the class offered something different for those in their older years who wanted to keep moving for exercise, but did not want to do traditional movement. "There is a lot of pressure on people in their later years to exercise to remain healthy and biomechanically stable," she said. "But a lot of that exercise can be very linear and regimented and not very inspiring. Dance involves the mind and the imagination.Around 30 dancers, mostly aged over 55, attend the weekly 'Still Dancing' classes.Ms Taylor said along with the joy of dancing, she valued the community and connection in the class. "To know that there's people here who enjoy the same things and value the same friendships is so important," she said. "I think I really feel that it's a great gift we are given here — to have this experience of connection and being together and a community in a sense." Judy Taylor says when she first started dance classes she wasn't sure if it was for her, but later grew to love it."People meet people and they hang out on the weekends; there is so much depth of relationship here in the room every week," she said. "Dance is for everybody. Everyone can dance and generally everyone will enjoy dance once they're exposed to what the possibilities can be."Adelaide University research fellow Dr Maddison Mellow says physical movement can help slow cognitive decline in older people.Dr Maddison Mellow, a postdoctoral research fellow at Adelaide University, has done extensive studies around brain health and how lifestyle changes can reduce dementia risk. She said physical inactivity is a risk factor for dementia, which as of 2025 is the leading cause of death in Australia according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. "The heart and the brain are strongly connected, so what's good for your heart is good for your brain," Dr Mellow said. "We know that remaining physically active or increasing physical activity has benefits for cerebral blood flow and reducing neuroinflammation. "There is also some evidence that physical activity can increase or maintain the volume of certain brain regions ... for example the hippocampus which is important for memory storage and retrieval." The 'Still Dancing' classes focus on gentle movement in a non-traditional expressive way.Dr Mellow said studies had also found social contact and social engagement were beneficial in combating social isolation; another risk factor for dementia. "People who enjoy the physical activity they're doing are more likely to stick to it and then more likely to maintain it as a habit rather than just a once off," she says. "That jump from zero to five or ten minutes a day is typically where we see the largest jump in physical and cognitive benefits, and the benefits continue from there." "It's never too late to get back in to exercise."Ms Robertson and Ms Taylor both said the class had had a positive effect on their lives, and they have begun dancing outside the class.Dancers are encouraged to be present and mindful of their movements during the class."I'm in the shops and I'm lining up and I hear music and I start to do this much to everybody's embarrassment," she said.They both plan to continue dancing for as long as they can. 84-year-old Peggy Robertson says that she will continue dancing for as long as she is physically able to."If I can't move my legs, I'll sit on a chair and move. I'll just keep moving," Ms Robertson said"I never want to stop. I'll be doing something as long as I can," Ms Taylor said.
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