Moving with meaning: community line dancing, health-motivated engagement, and belonging among older adults in Texas

BACKGROUND: As the U.S. population ages, identifying accessible, community-based approaches that promote older adults' physical and psychosocial well-being is increasingly important. Recent studies have shown that dance interventions can improve physical fitness and cardiovascular health among older adults. Line dancing, a widely practiced group activity, may offer benefits that extend beyond recreation. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the Sense of Community (SOC) framework, this study explored how older adults experience line dancing as a form of health-motivated engagement. METHODS: Eight older adults (aged 65-83; seven women and one man) who regularly attended community line dancing classes at two senior centers in College Station, Texas, participated in semi-structured, in-person interviews. Data were analyzed using a phronetic iterative approach. RESULTS: Six themes were identified for autonomy, three for competence, and three for relatedness across individual and community levels. Participants experienced autonomy through self-directed engagement in dance, including lifelong passion, ongoing learning, and leadership within dance groups. Competence was reflected in skill confidence and bodily self-awareness, supported by peer recognition and opportunities to contribute to the group. Relatedness emerged through collective emotional resonance, interpersonal bonding, and a strong sense of community belonging. Together, these experiences fostered vitality, purpose, and sustained participation, demonstrating how line dancing fulfilled older adults' basic psychological needs while strengthening community connections. CONCLUSIONS: Community line dancing supports self-determined, socially connected, and adaptive engagement among older adults. By integrating SDT and SOC, this study provides insights into how community-based dance programs can promote healthy aging and social well-being.