Facilitating adaptive movement in older adults through Bharatanatyam.

This article focuses on using the traditional Indian classical dance form Bharatanatyam as a novel approach to promote adaptive and expressive movement in older adults. It highlights two key elements of Bharatanatyam—hand gestures (hastas) and emotions (rasas)—as tools to facilitate safe physical activity, storytelling, and emotional expression among seniors, including those with conditions like dementia and Parkinson's disease. The practice integrates subtle movements of the eyes, face, and body to engage participants creatively without medicalizing their experience. The article suggests that incorporating Bharatanatyam into creative ageing programs can support healthy ageing by fostering mobility, social connection, and lifelong learning in culturally sensitive ways.