Street dancing at 51 and counting - yes dancing is for everyone!

Back in 2013 I posted that I was just starting a Street dance in Sheffield class. I was fast approaching 40.

Fast forward 13 years and I'm still dancing at the marvelous age of 51.  In fact, over the last 12 years I managed to squeeze in enough Tap dance classes to qualify as an IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association) Associate Tap teacher, continue to take part in Katy Robinson’s On Broadway classes in person and on-line and took up a new Street dance class, which led to becoming part of a crew and competing at the UDO Regionals in Sheffield taking home 1st place twice, most recently in Feb 2026.  We even went to the UDO Worlds Street dancing championships in Blackpool in 2025 and 2023.  We haven't managed to place at Worlds yet (the standard is insane!) but we have our sights on it. 

I absolutely love it! 

And just in case that's not clear enough.  I absolutely, positively, adore dancing.  This is to the extent that I can't understand people who can sit still when listening to music.  I can't not move to it.  Even when watching dance on TV, my body tenses and stretches and starts to mimic what I'm watching.  It's incredibly subtle, but it does it. 

I’m telling you this because it genuinely doesn’t matter how old you are when it comes to dancing.  Whilst social media and TV would have us believe it's a youngsters game, there's plenty of evidence pointing to ‘use it or lose it’.  I like to think we older dancers, with many year's more practice, have something to teach the youngsters!  Maybe when it comes to having a maturity in the dance, a musicality and an understanding of when stillness is needed amidst the movement.  

Scientific research increasing tells us that exercise in all forms is great for health and longevity.  In particular, dance that includes direction changes, bouncing and hopping motions, puts our bones under just enough stress for them to continually rebuild and strengthen, great for our bone structure and protecting against osteoporosis.  Michael Mosley explains this in the Channel 4 documentary Super agers, which I watched with fascination.  Isn't it lovely when you discover new positives about a hobby you love already. 

And it's not just our physical health it's great for.  Research at the University of Surrey and Northumbria University, Newcastle  both indicate that dance is a powerful mental health intention, supporting emotional regulation, social bonding and stress management. And that's just two examples of research tracked down in seconds.  There's a vast rabbit hole of research out there outlining benefits, including for Dementia. 

We all know regular exercise is great for us. Why not have fun dancing? If you are questioning whether you should, try asking yourself instead if you could. We only get one shot at life folks; enjoy it.

Thanks to all the Rustik crew and the folks at DanceDaze.  In particular to  choreographers Sinead and Jack, who took us on, and challenge us every week.  Roll on the next performance!