Experiences of Older People with Dancing as a Form of Physical Activity / Iskustva starijih osoba s plesom kao oblikom fizičke aktivnosti

Abstract

In terms of active aging, physical activity, which is considered a major factor in preserving good physical and mental health, is particularly emphasized. In this paper, the focus is on dancing as an activity that includes motor skills, cognitive and sensorimotor capacities, emotional and social tendencies and sensory abilities. The aim of the study was to gain an insight into some aspects of participation in dance activities from the perspective of older persons who participate in dance activities. The results of the research demonstrate that older persons cite new life circumstances as a reason for engaging in dance activities, as well as good organization of dance activities for older persons. They also highlight the characteristics and relationships among members of a dance group, as well as the importance of the leader’s role, responses of their social environment, enrichment of daily life by dance and the discovery of dancing as a talent that contributes to the sense of community at a higher level. Certain difficulties related to participation in dance activities are highlighted as well (e.g. differences in participants’ abilities to master dance steps). Older persons regard participation in dance activities as yielding multiple benefits: as a determinant of physical and mental health, preserving cognitive functions, expanding the network of friends and acquaintances, and a feeling of having free time that is rich in activities. It can be concluded that dancing plays an important role in the lives of persons who participate in these activities, as well as that it represents a positive contribution to various aspects of their lives. Key words: active aging; andragogy; physical activity; dancing; older persons. - Kod aktivnog starenja osobito se istice fizicka aktivnost koja se smatra glavnim faktorom za ocuvanje dobrog fizickog i psihickog zdravlja. U ovom radu fokus je na plesu kao aktivnosti koja ukljucuje motoricke vjestine, kognitivne i senzomotorne kapacitete, emocionalne i socijalne sklonosti te osjetilne sposobnosti. Cilj istraživanja bio je dobiti uvid u neke aspekte sudjelovanja u plesnim aktivnostima iz perspektive starijih osoba koje sudjeluju u plesnim aktivnostima. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da starije osobe za sudjelovanje u plesnim aktivnostima navode nove životne okolnosti kao razloge bavljenja plesom i dobru organizaciju plesnih aktivnosti za starije. Također isticu karakteristike i odnose među clanova plesne skupine kao i važnost uloge voditelja, reakcije okoline, obogacenost svakodnevnog života plesom te otkrivanje plesa kao talenta koji doprinosi zajednistvu na visoj razini. Istaknute su i neke teskoce vezane uz sudjelovanje u plesnim aktivnostima (npr. razlicite mogucnosti sudionika u svladavanju plesnih koraka). Sudjelovanje u plesnim aktivnostima starije osobe doživljavaju visestruko korisnima: kao odrednicu fizickog i psihickog zdravlja, ocuvanje kognitivnih funkcija, sirenje mreže prijatelja i poznanika te osjecaj dobro ispunjenog slobodnog vremena. Može se zakljuciti kako ples ima važnu ulogu u životu starijih osoba koje sudjeluju u navedenim aktivnostima kao i pozitivan doprinos razlicitim aspektima njihovog života. Kljucne rijeci: aktivno starenje; andragogija; fizicka aktivnost; ples; starije osobe Normal 0 21 false false false HR X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}