Dance as a lifelong healthy activity: a literature scoping review

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to the performing arts, particularly dance, as a relevant practice in society. With its various styles, dance can adapt to the needs of the population and social conditions. The belief that it has multiple benefits for overall health prompts a review of existing scientific literature on dance. This study aims to investigate the contributions of recent literature on the benefits of dance practice in healthy individuals of all ages, determine its appropriateness for overall health at any stage of life, and identify its concrete benefits. A qualitative analysis was conducted on documents published between 2012 and 2022 using the Atlas Ti 8 software. The study found an increase in publications that recognize dance as a tool for promoting healthy benefits, including psychological and mental benefits in children, physical, mental, and social benefits in teenagers and young people, physical, psychological, and emotional benefits in adults, and physical, emotional, and social benefits in the elderly. The study concludes that dance practice improves overall health at all stages of life