Let’s Dance
- E40
- 33:46
- September 22nd 2026
Dance is more than movement. It brings together physical activity, social connection and cognitive engagement.
In this episode, we explore how dance can benefit people of all ages and abilities. We join a dance class at Canada’s National Ballet School with Michael Farewell, a community-dwelling older adult dancer. Then Dr. Rachel Bar, Director of Research and Health at Canada’s National Ballet School, shares insights into the growing evidence behind dance and healthy aging.
Whether in a studio, community centre or living room, there’s no right or wrong way to dance. Making dance a regular part of your life can benefit your overall wellness and remember… dance like no one is watching.
Soon to be 79, Michael Farewell has attended older adult dance classes at Canada’s National Ballet School for many years. A Tai Chi enthusiast, he participates in Tai Chi and line dancing at Toronto’s Mon Sheong Centre. He retired from Bell Canada two decades ago.
Dr. Rachel Bar was a professional ballet dancer before she completed her PhD in psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University and a post-doctoral fellowship at Trent University’s Trent Centre for Aging & Society. Since 2020, Rachel has been Director of Research and Health at Canada’s National Ballet School where she oversees the School’s Research Institute and Artistic Health Department. Her research spans broadly across both the health and wellness needs of dancers and the benefits of dance for community health and wellness. Specifically, much of her work in community research has focused on dance in older adulthood, including its benefits for people living with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and the knowledge mobilization of this research.
Megan Ferris is the Manager of Older Adults and Community School Programs at Canada's National Ballet School (NBS). She is a graduate with distinction from the NBS Teacher Training Program and the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson University specializing in Early Childhood Studies. In her role, Megan focuses on providing dance programming to people of all ages and abilities, while coordinating partnership development as well as evaluation for on-site, in community and online programming. Along with her extensive work in NBS' Community Dance Programs, Megan is also a faculty member and student mentor in NBS' Teacher Training Program.
Jeannie Yeun is a Toronto-based pianist and accompanist who works with Canada’s National Ballet School, the School of Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre and Royal Academy of Dance examinations. A University of Toronto graduate, she maintains an active freelance career and piano studio in the Greater Toronto Area.
Defy Dementia – The podcast for anyone with a brain, by Baycrest
Defy Dementia is an empowering new podcast by Baycrest that is dedicated to helping you reduce your dementia risk. Join us on a captivating exploration of key dementia risk factors as we interview experts, hear inspiring stories from persons with lived experience, and share practical advice to help you optimize your aging journey. Tune in and subscribe at defydementia.org or anywhere you get your podcasts, and unlock the power to age fearlessly and defy dementia.
Each episode will be complemented by a short video, infographic, and related resources to help you take control of your brain health.
Defy Dementia is hosted by Jay Ingram (Canadian author and broadcaster) and Dr. Allison Sekuler (President and Chief Scientist, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation). The podcast is generously funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Slaight family fundation and CABHI.
About Our Hosts
Jay Ingram has more than 40 years of experience as an author, broadcaster, and science communicator. He was co-host of Discovery Channel's science show, Daily Planet, for 16 years, and was instrumental in helping shape the program format. He also hosted CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks for 12 years, earning him two ACTRA Awards, and had a weekly science column in the Toronto Star for 12 years. He has written 20 books. In 1984, Jay was awarded the Sandford Fleming Medal from the Royal Canadian Institute for his efforts to popularize science, and he also earned the Royal Society of Canada’s McNeil Medal for the Public Awareness of Science in 1997. In 2000, Jay was awarded a Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2009 he was named to The Order of Canada. In addition, he is the 2015 recipient of the Walter C. Alvarez award for medical writing given by the American Medical Writers Association.
Dr. Allison Sekuler (FSEP, FPsyS, FAPS) is the Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute, the President and Chief Scientist at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education and at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI). A graduate of Pomona College (BA, Mathematics and Psychology) and the University of California, Berkeley (PhD, Psychology), Dr. Sekuler holds faculty positions in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto and the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University. Her foundational research uses behavioural and neuroimaging approaches to understand perception, cognition, and the brain; and her clinical and translational research aims to develop methods to prevent, detect, and treat age-related sensory and cognitive decline. Dr. Sekuler has won numerous national and international awards for research, teaching, and leadership – including serving as the country’s first Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and recently being named one of WXN's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada (2019).