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Community-Led Dance for Ageing Well

Overview 

Dance On is a project that co-creates, delivers and evaluates community-based dance for older adults, including those aged 85+. Led by researchers at the University of Leeds in partnership with national and regional arts organisations, the project demonstrates how dance can support healthy ageing at scale. 

Initial funding came from Sport England’s Active Ageing Fund and investment from city councils in Leeds, Bradford and Doncaster. From 2023-2025 Get Doncaster Moving funded the project through their Sport England Local Delivery Pilot programmes to build on the work that had been done so far, whilst Yorkshire Dance secured investment from National Lottery, Reaching Communities and Leeds and Bradford Councils to extend the Dance On programmes in Leeds and Bradford.

The challenge 

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for poor health and mortality in older adults, particularly those over 75. Many existing interventions fail to reach people in areas with the largest health inequalities, and those above the age of 85. 

The Creative Health approach 

Dance is used as an accessible, enjoyable and socially embedded form of physical activity. The project integrates creative practice with biomedical and public health research, evaluating not only physical and mental health outcomes but also social connection, confidence and quality of life. 

Collaboration and partnerships 

The project is delivered in partnership with One Dance UK, Yorkshire Dance, and darts, working closely with local authorities, care homes and community organisations to embed dance into health promotion strategies. 

Impact and outcomes 

Dance On applied the tested model of contemporary dance to deliver weekly classes over a one-year period to 685 people with an average age of 75, more than a third of whom were from highly deprived communities. 

  • Increased physical activity and wellbeing sustained over 12 months 
  • Demonstrated cost-effectiveness in falls prevention 
  • Reached 685 participants aged 55+, including those from highly deprived communities 
  • Published peer-reviewed evidence supporting dance as a public health intervention 

People and affiliations 

Academic lead: Professor  Sarah Astill
School of Biomedical Sciences
Faculty of Biological Sciences

Selected outputs, media and publications