Dance Participation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Older Adult Dance Studio Members

This phenomenological study explored the effects of COVID-19's stay-at-home order on dance participation. Nine dance studio members, 60+ age, shared their lived experiences through semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis was conducted. Four themes emerged: Occupational disruption resulted from the loss of routine with sudden adaptation;virtual dance contributed positively to physical and emotional well-being;expanded virtual community addressed feelings of isolation and loneliness;and a positive outlook and hopefulness for future in-person dance. Themes underscore the importance of dance for older adults and the need to address physical, emotional, and social factors associated with un-predicted future pandemics. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)