Senior dance has been used in different health contexts, but information on its effectiveness has not been yet compiled. The present review shows the results of a search carried out in the Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases, including material published between 1974 and 2019, using the keyword "senior dance" in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Twenty-one articles were retrieved, and seven met the selection criteria. Different intervention protocols were found, with the most common being therapy using two weekly sessions, with sessions lasting up to 60 min. The studies had small samples but indicated improvements in the cognitive or psychological component, especially in depression and anxiety; higher willingness to participate in other social activities; and improvements in self-care and family and social roles. The evidence also suggests gains in the biological dimensions, with improved body structure and function.
Keywords: Dancing; Health care; Human physical conditioning; Nursing; Senior dance.
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