When the music starts, the studio fills with movement. A dozen eager students follow their dance teacher, raising their arms and tapping their feet, genuinely enjoying the music and each other. All from their chairs.

At Lifespan Dance, movement is for everyone, no matter their age or ability.

Founded in 2019 by dance veteran Paige Gordon, Lifespan Dance offers seated dance classes across Western Australia. The sessions are designed for people with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and arthritis, or anyone who simply wants to regain confidence in their movement.

“The dance classes taught by Lifespan Dance teachers are all embedded with values of care,” Gordon says. “We’re really taking a person-centred approach. We have notions of care such as attentiveness and responsiveness, and really kind of listening and being aware of people in class.”

Classes are run using a two-teacher model. While one instructor leads the routine, another demonstrates alternative movements for people with different levels of mobility.

“If there’s a standing exercise, and there are some people in the class that are not able to stand, then we demonstrate that seated,” says Gordon. “People at any time have the chance just to stop, sit, breathe, and enjoy the music, while still being a part of it.”

The goal is to make dance accessible without losing its structure or challenge. Participants build coordination, strength and balance while doing it in a way that feels safe for their bodies.

“You’re getting your exercise, you’re getting your cognition, and you’re getting that boost of enjoyment,” Gordon says. “You’re feeling connected with others, and that interconnectedness and that social health is really important.”

Lifespan Dance runs three main types of classes. The community classes are held in studios, theatres and art centres for people living independently who can travel to sessions. With the outreach classes, teaching artists visit aged-care facilities or retirement villages to run seated dance sessions on site. The growing digital program includes online zoom classes and a video library of recorded sessions for those who can’t attend in person.

Starting slow

It’s another Tuesday afternoon session. The class begins with gentle controlled movements – shoulder rolls, footwork, and upper-body stretches – aimed to improve mobility and coordination.

Participants are then invited to stand if they feel able. For those who can’t, each movement has an adaptable version so one one is left behind. Both instructors demonstrate the options clearly.

The pace is relaxed but purposeful. We practise the movements first without music, breaking them down step by step. Once everyone is comfortable, the teacher adds music and the class moves together in rhythm – some smiling, some concentrating, all engaged.

The room feels comfortable and familiar, filled with laughter and light conversations between dances. People joke with each other, clapping at the end of each sequence, and celebrating together. It is clear the class is about more than just exercise – it’s a social connection, a weekly routine that brings joy as much as movement.

Gordon says the different classes mean almost anyone can participate, no matter their circumstances.

Frank and Penny Vanderzwan have been attending Lifespan Dance classes for three years. What began as a way to improve balance in a safe environment has become a weekly shared ritual.

“We were looking for something to help with your balance,” Frank says, glancing at Penny. “And I just joined because of Penny, but found out at the same time that not only was it benefitting Penny, it was benefitting me.”

“We’ve got the best teacher of all, and that’s Paige,” Penny says. “She is the reason we keep coming, because she’s fantastic.”

Moving for good

Dance has long been recognised for its physical and psychological benefits. A 2013 study by researchers Sara Houston and Ashley McGill found that dance classes for people with Parkinson’s improved balance, confidence and mood through the combination of rhythm, memory and community.

A World Health Organization (WHO) report on the role of the arts in health also concluded participation in creative programs such as dance can improve mobility and social connection among older adults.

“Dance is considered to be a bio-psychosocial activity,” Gordon says. “It’s biological, social and psychological all at once.”

According to the Australian Psychological Society, group movement programs like Lifespan Dance are particularly effective because they strengthen both physical and emotional resilience. Shared activity helps reduce anxiety and isolation.

Lifespan Dance isn’t about perfection, it’s about inclusion. “We do know that dance can bring joy to people, and some movements really elicit that joy,” Gordon says.

This approach aligns with a growing national conversation about preventative health. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in five Australians will be over 65 by 2030 and programs that combine creativity and exercise are increasingly supported as ways to promote wellbeing among older adults.

As Australia’s population ages, initiatives like Lifespan Dance are becoming more than community pastimes – they’re part of a broader shift in our approach to health and wellbeing.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that one in four Australians over 65 experience mobility limitations that affect their confidence and independence. Programs that combine movement, music and social connection are proving to be among the most effective interventions.

Each term at Lifespan Dance follows a theme that shapes the choreography and music. This term’s theme is The Nutcracker. Participants are encouraged to dress up at the end of the term as well.

“We always end the term with a little showing,” says Gordon. “Nothing formal – just a chance for everyone to dress up, perform what they’ve learned and celebrate together.”

Working mind and body

Noel Howell has been involved with Lifespan Dance both inside and outside the studio. With a background in theatre and design, he first worked with Gordon on creative projects before joining the program as a participant.

“It’s really good exercise, because you do it to the best of your ability and you can push yourself as much as you want, or not,” Howell says. “It’s a workout for your whole body.”

It also brings together people who might never have crossed paths otherwise. “It gives people a huge amount of confidence to go out and perform in public,” he says. “It’s really welcoming and makes you feel good.”

Some of the most powerful moments come from the way dance reconnects people to their memories.

Gordon recalls an 80-year-old woman who once brought her childhood ballet shoes to class – a post-war gift she had kept for decades. “It was almost like caring for a memory – she just tapped into this incredible memory in her time of life.”

A WHO report found that creative movement activates areas of the brain linked to emotion and long-term memory, helping older adults reconnect with meaningful experiences.

Gordon hopes Lifespan Dance will continue to grow and provide sustainable opportunities for professional dancers to work in health and community settings.

“What I would like to do is have around 40 trained teaching dance artists that are able to get paid to do this work every day of their careers,” she says. “There is such a huge need for it, and such high demand as well.”

Staying connected

As the Tuesday class wraps, the instructor moves between groups, answering questions and sharing a few laughs. The sense of ease lingers – familiar faces, a shared rhythm, and the steady routine of moving together each week.

The studio gradually empties, but the warmth of the space – that intangible mix of community, care and conversation –lingers.

“In a world filled with turbulence at the moment, there are so many things that require humans to stay well and stay connected,” Gordon says. “Dance is a great way to do that.”

See lifespandance.com for more information about the classes.