1. How to Tap the Fountain of Youth Dance to Benefit the Mind and Body
Presented at AGING IN TEXAS CONFERENCE
by Andrea Cody, Executive Director

2. Mission
The Joy of Dance
Dance Houston’s mission is to engage, enrich and excite the community through the art of dance! We do so by creating, performing, educating and presenting. We bring together people of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds. We facilitate sharing and collaboration among cultures and provide educational and performance opportunities.
Letter from Obama to Norma Miller 2

3. Survey Dance or plan to dance on a regular basis?
Have a plan to incorporate dance in your programs for aging adults?
Feel like you could lead a dance class?
Know why dance can be more beneficial to brain health than physical exercise only? 3

4. Research Dance’s clinically proven benefits to Seniors: Balance
Cognition
Quality of Life
Neuroplasticity
Physical fitness
Psychological benefits
Non-pharmacological intervention promoting mental and physical well-being
Swing Dancing 4

5. Dance is good for the mind, body and soul!
Benefits
Redefining Self-Image – dancing makes people look more attractive and feel more attractive. Dancing can be a way to re-define how you move and present yourself. Confident postures induce confidence. Dance motivates people to make healthier choices in terms of diet and exercise in order to look their best while dancing and to be improve their capabilities by becoming fitter, faster, and stronger.
Exercise – dancing includes aerobics, weight-lifting, flexibility and mindfulness. Exercise is a basic requirement of good health and can be accomplished efficiently through the stop and start actions of dancing. As an expressive art, it can be modified for all skill and ability levels.
Social – make friends, have fun, goof off in a healthy way, experience a natural high with others, develop a social skill, improve non-verbal communication and confidence.
Mood – dancing improves your mood whether you are doing it or simply watching it. When you feel happier, you look happier and move happier, which makes you even happier. It’s an upward spiral!
Self-expression – dancing is a creative art. Be unique. Be you!
Social Dancing
Dance is good for the mind, body and soul! 5

6. Activities Dance classes Social dances Interactive guest performances
Dance movie nights
Games and activities
Tap Happy at Discovery Green
Tap Class 6

7. Survey Dance or plan to dance on a regular basis?
Have a plan to incorporate dance in your programs for aging adults?
Feel like you could lead a dance class?
Know why dance can be more beneficial to brain health than physical exercise only? 7

8. Services EDUCATION PERFORMANCES 8
Dance Houston is the premier producer and presenter of dance events and education in Houston. Since 2003, Dance Houston brings professional, culturally diverse performing arts to 25,000 people annually. Our programs succeed into two main categories:
EDUCATION
Dance Classes and Workshops provide multi-cultural dance classes and performances to 2,500 students annually. We’d love to teach you!
Dance Camps provide training by top professionals in a variety of styles of dance. We are the only dance intensive to operate 8:00am – 5:00pm with extended care available, thus providing unparalleled accessibility for children of working parents. We provided 15 full and 15 partial scholarships to our five-week program.
Health Programs provide free classes for children struggling with obesity and related social and mental health issues through a collaboration with Texas Children's (successfully since )
PERFORMANCES
Festivals featuring local dancers and dance companies specializing in diverse styles of dance. Many are free. Sign up for our mailing list!
Performances provide multi-cultural performances. We would love to perform for you!
Summer Camps
Performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre 8

9. FESTIVALS AND PERFORMANCES
Programs & Services
EDUCATION
Camps
After-School and Community
Health
# of Students 60
4,000
300
Frequency
50 hrs/wk for 5 weeks (250 hrs)
3 hrs/week for 50 weeks (150 hrs)
2 hrs/wk for 25 weeks (50 hrs)
Target Population
Youth with serious interest in dance.
30 need-based scholarships awarded.
Youth, At-risk youth attending Title 1 public schools, Teachers (CE classes)
Children who are diagnosed with obesity and their families.
Purpose
Develop character and dance skills in multiple styles.
Foster cultural pride and appreciation. Improve job skills and social skills.
Provide fitness training and mentoring to encourage healthy, active lifestyles
Locations
The Wortham Center
Soreal Dance Studio
DAA Dance Academy
Change Happens Jewish Community Center
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Texas Southern University
Texas Dance Educators Association
Texas Children’s Health Plan Center for Children & Women - Sharpstown
Texas Children’s Health Plan Center for Children & Women - Greenspoint
FESTIVALS AND PERFORMANCES
Festivals & New Works
Commissions & Bookings
# of Artists
85 companies/400 dancers
30 companies/500 dancers
Purpose
Engage the community in celebration of dance and diversity.
Fulfill clients’ needs and provide jobs to artists who specialize in a variety of dance styles.
Locations
George R. Brown Convention Center
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Discovery Green
The Wortham Center
Queensbury Theater
Belmont Village
Buffalo Bayou Park
Children’s Museum of Houston Discovery Green
Emancipation Park
T. E. Harmon Center
Hornbeck Ranch
New Hope Lutheran Church
Truc Lam Meditation Center
Memorial City Mall 9

10. For more information, please contact
Thank You!
For more information, please contact
Andrea Cody
Executive Director