For the last 21 years, Striking Attitudes has done pioneering work promoting the concept of the mature body as a viable and valid one and continues to do so. Striking Attitudes’s focus is to offer creative movement to support older people; to develop their skills and interests, and also to improve their mental health and wellbeing
The chance to continue to be creative in older age is well known to be a vital ingredient in physical well-being and good mental health. Dance is now recognised as one of the best ways to support good health and well-being and to combat loneliness in older age: Brits approve plans for GPs to prescribe dance lessons to tackle loneliness.
The older dancer provides a positive role model, offers the opportunity to reassess what is possible as we age and is one of the best ways of challenging negative or stereotypical images of older people.
Physical and mental health
Good health and mental wellbeing are recognised as positive results of movement activity and physical exercise. Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing. A report by an all-party parliamentary group (APPG)
Dancing collectively via Zoom or other online platform is recognised as a way of benefiting individuals physically and mentally when traditional models are not accessible, as we learned during COVID. ‘Does dance consist of bodies in the same space?‘ is an independent assessment of Zoom creative sessions during the restrictions forced by the COVID pandemic conducted by Dr Justine Coupland
Physical wellbeing
Physical exercise and creative movement work are health enhancing and often physically challenging – joint strengthening and stretching inevitably take place when older people participate in creative physical exercise and these help the body remain supple. Physical exercise improves balance helping to avoid falls.
The use of our bodies as a creative instrument has a positive impact on individuals; it gives confirmation of physical capabilities and a sense of achievement.
Striking Attitudes works with movement that highlights the specific qualities of an older dancer – a movement that comes from the older body. Our strength is in making high-quality work that celebrates where the individual is now, both physically and emotionally.
Mental wellbeing
Having an outlet for creativity in life is vitally important at any age. Dancing and moving creatively is a life affirming experience. Striking Attitudes’ emphasis in our movement classes is always on the importance of an individual’s creative voice giving a sense of self-worth.
Using our physicality, our inventive and imaginative powers invigorates and fulfills us. It stimulates us physically and mentally helping to avoid a decline in energy and motivation.
Dancing and moving as part of a group helps combat social isolation and depression. Participants contribute both individually and within groups giving a sense of belonging and ownership.
Dance, ageing and the mirror is a research report on the question ‘How do I look?’ as part of personal ageing. The research studying some of the older dancers from Striking Attitudes was published and presented by Dr Justine Coupland (Cardiff University and University of Technology, Sydney, Australia).
Striking Attitudes 