Dancing to well-being: A qualitative study on the perceived benefits of creative-based dance among middle-aged adults

Background Traditional exercise programmes for middle adulthood often prioritise reducing physical decline over holistic development. Adopting a biopsychosocial approach, this study explores how middle-aged adults subjectively experience a creative-based dance programme, examining the changes they perceive across the physical, psycho-emotional and relational dimensions of well-being, and the processes through which these emerge. Methods An 18-week creative-based dance intervention (36 sessions), grounded in dance, improvisation and motor exploration was conducted with 23 adults (18 women, 5 men; Age mean = 52.7 years). Following a constructivist approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample ( n = 6). Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis to identify the mechanisms of change in participants’ experiences. Results Four interconnected themes were generated. Riding the embodied personal experience reflected how participants experienced the sessions as emotionally intense and challenging, moving beyond familiar bodily and expressive patterns. A safe space for taking risks showed how a non-judgemental, age-matched peer group and supportive teacher guidance enabled engagement with uncertainty and exploration. Embodied, emotional and creative changes in well-being captured perceived gains in movement ease, bodily confidence, present-moment awareness, emotional regulation and creative agency. Finally, sustainability and adherence as emergent dynamics described how the meaningful, enjoyable nature of the practice supported motivation to continue and more sustainable health habits. Conclusion(s) Creative-based dance serves as a multidimensional health driver in which well-being emerges as a dynamic construct. By prioritising meaning over technical repetition, it fosters sustainable adherence and personal growth, offering a holistic pathway to enhanced functioning in middle-aged populations.