[For Seniors] Recommended Dances You Can Move To and Enjoy
Older adults often feel that dancing is a high hurdle, but that’s not the case.
These days, even day-care programs and senior facilities incorporate dance into their recreational activities.
When we think of dance, things like ballroom dancing and folk dancing come to mind, right?
In this article, we introduce dance-based recreation tailored to the physical and mental conditions of older adults.
We’ve gathered only dances recommended for seniors, including seated dances and dance activities actually practiced in care settings.
Please enjoy rhythmic dancing to the music.
- [For Seniors] Have Fun and Relieve Stress! Introducing Dances Everyone Can Enjoy Together
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- Also great for dementia care! Recommended dance songs for people in their 70s: Let’s dance to those classic hits
- [For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- Entertainment and Performances That Delight at Day Services for the Elderly
- [Today's Recommendation] Gentle Health Exercises for Seniors
- Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Soothing Songs]
- [For Seniors] Fun Exercises You Can Do While Seated
- [For Seniors] Recommended Rhythm Play and Exercises
- For seniors: Leg-strengthening exercises you can do without overexertion.
- [For Seniors] Recommended for Recreation! A Collection of Fun and Lively Parody Songs
[For Seniors] Recommended Dances You Can Move and Enjoy (21–30)
Festival MamboMisora Hibari
Mambo—a genre that many Japanese first became aware of thanks to Hibari Misora’s “Omatsuri Mambo.” You can probably picture the jokesters who shout “Uu—Mambo!” when they’re in high spirits.
It’s said that mambo emerged in the 1900s from a fusion of rumba and jazz.
Hearing “the 1900s,” it still feels like a relatively new musical genre, doesn’t it? Just the famous intro of “Omatsuri Mambo”—that tsuttaka-tsuttakattakata rhythm—will get your body moving.
It’s a fun, highly recommended song: you can learn some simple mambo steps, or just imitate Hibari Misora’s moves.
Hibari Misora MedleyMisora Hibari
Hibari Misora, the original diva who kept singing throughout the tumultuous Showa era.
What’s your favorite Hibari song? There’s no way to pick just one—from “Kanashiki Kuchibue” and “Tokyo Kid,” which supported the hearts of Japanese people after the war, to “Ringo Oiwake” and “Omatsuri Mambo,” which captivated the early days of television, her peak-era hits like “Yawara” and “Kanashii Sake,” and her late masterpiece “Kawa no Nagare no Yō ni.” So how about moving your body to a Hibari medley instead? Video sites even have clips that teach simple choreography.
I hope you can spend a delightful time along with your memories!
[For Seniors] Recommended Dances You Can Move to and Enjoy (31–40)
Matsuken Samba IIMatsudaira Ken
Let’s get moving to Matsudaira Ken’s signature song, “Matsuken Samba II,” well known from period dramas.
While the song is strongly associated with light, nimble steps, when doing it as an exercise, it’s best to focus on the fun and the rhythm.
Even a simple motion like swinging your hands left and right will engage your arms when matched to the sprightly beat.
By combining choreography inspired by the lyrics with stretches for the neck, arms, and more, you get a well-balanced routine that works the whole body.
SAM’s Anyone-Can-Do Dance Exercise
If you want to beat lifestyle-related diseases in style, I recommend the Anyone-Can-Do Dance Exercise.
It’s actually a pretty tough workout! It might be especially good for people who don’t get much exercise.
It could even help with a light diet.
There’s twisting, leg lifts, and more.
It’s hard, but the music is cool, so I think you’ll be able to keep it up every day!
People of the Me-gumi (firefighters’ brigade)RATS&STAR
It was quite a shock when, at the height of their popularity, Chanels changed their name to Rats & Star.
These days, it’s not unusual for comedians to change their stage names and become more popular, but back then it felt groundbreaking.
Their memorable first single under the new name was Mekumi no Hito.
People today might be more familiar with Kumi Koda’s cover version.
As long as you can nail the signature pose—the “Me!”—you can pretty much move however you like.
It’s a high-energy track that makes you want to move your body while reminiscing about the old days.
Apple SongNamiki Michiko
Even a casual listener who’s like, “Music? Hmm, I guess it’s okay,” will definitely know this song.
And of course, there can’t be a single senior who hasn’t heard it.
Ringo no Uta, the very first postwar hit in Japan, is a curious song: though the melody carries a hint of sadness, listening to it somehow fills you with strength.
Hachiro Sato’s lyrics are wonderful, too.
Its slightly relaxed tempo makes it easy for dance beginners to move along.
Whether you dance standing or seated, it’s a perfect recommendation for all seniors!
DynamiteBTS
This is a smash hit by BTS that always gets featured in the “Comedians Who Don’t Want to Dance” episode of the hugely popular variety show Ame Talk! Start by watching that episode to get in a cheerful mood, then get your body moving.
Of course, since it’s such a popular song, it’s also perfect for performances at senior clubs or Respect-for-the-Aged events.
Feel free to directly borrow parts where you can imitate BTS—like the signature poses—and customize the tougher sections to fit what you can dance.
It’s a song that lifts your spirits, so it’s also recommended for your regular workouts.