The Regional Secretary for Inclusion, Labour and Youth, Paula Margarido, participated in the 6th Madeira Senior Dance Festival in Funchal's Municipal Garden. The event brought together seniors from various groups and institutions across the region for an afternoon dedicated to dance, socialising, and promoting active aging.
Margarido emphasised the social dimension of the activity, noting how music and movement combat isolation, stimulate physical and cognitive abilities, and strengthen social bonds. "Age should never be a barrier to life," she stated, advocating for senior dance, an international discipline present in 17 countries, as a tool for well-being and social participation.
The "Dança Sénior Madeira" project, run by Associação Exemplos Sábios for 12 years, operates in five municipalities and 41 locations on the island, involving hundreds of participants. The secretary highlighted that these figures represent individuals who leave their homes, make friends, learn, and exercise their bodies and minds, feeling they have a role in their community. "Promoting active and healthy aging must mean adding life to years, not just years to life," she concluded.
