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.