Abstract

Music was found to be important for older people in the ethnographic and narrative
interview study comparing dance groups attended by older people which we report in this
paper. The international range of music was attractive to older Circle dancers, as it
facilitated a deep range of emotions and memories, stimulating deeper personal
interpretations of the physical movements of the dances. Some of the Circle dancers had
been musicians first, and got involved in Circle dance through their love of music.
Although Scottish Country dance is performed internationally, the range of Scottish folk
music is not so broad as in Circle dance; however, there is some diversity. Some of the
Scottish Country dancers had been musicians first, and got involved in Scottish Country
dance through their love of music. Some of the Scottish Country dancers took up an
instrument in order to remain in touch with Scottish Country dancing if they got to a
point where they could no longer dance due to the problems of an ageing body.
Involvement in music means older people can remain in touch with dance, even when
their ageing bodies can no longer perform the dance movements.