Effects of Arts Engagement on Physical Performance, Cognition, Social Isolation, and Self-Perception in Older Adults

In this Randomized-Controlled-Trial, 60 adults (20/condition) will take part in 20, 45-minute sessions (ballroom dance, ukulele/guitar playing, or control- i.e. social conversation), 2 times/week for 10 weeks. While the investigators know that arts participation improves function in older adults, exact effects of different arts programs on health outcomes remains unclear. The investigators plan to fill this gap by studying how different arts participation affect health outcomes. The overall aim is to study how arts engagement helps older adults remain active and influences physical, psychological, and emotional functioning.