I love partnering with organisations to design sessions for, and to develop choreography with, specific groups. The aim of my work is to use music reminiscence and dance to promote wellbeing by helping people connect socially and stay active mentally and physically. Research shows that dancing can significantly improve wellbeing in older adults, including improvements in muscle strength, stamina and balance. As part of any project I can also provide a summary of outcomes, supported by data, observational and participant feedback, and images from sessions.
With experience in dancing, facilitation and community engagement, including working with people living with dementia and their carers, my approach is collaborative to ensure everyone benefits from taking part. If you would like to discuss how we could work together and find out more about pricing options do get in touch.
Photo by Anthony Brown
Session options
Sessions can be delivered in groups or a one-to-one basis. I also love working with groups towards a performance piece, helping people find the movement within themselves and to enjoy the creative process. I make use of sensory stimulation, particularly when working with individuals who are living with dementia or more limited range of movement.
Here's an example of a project delivered for dementia charity ReMind UK:
Session 1: We played music and used sensory props to encourage reminiscence. We explored memories of dancing, told stories and talked about our favourite songs.
Session 2: We listened to music inspired by the first session. Everyone voted for the tracks they would like to dance to. This encouraged interaction between people.
Session 3: We danced to the most popular tunes using choreography inspired by the group, with a mix of seated and standing dancing based on the group's range of movement.
With kind permission of Greystones, BCSV Homes
Recent commissions include:
Design and delivery of a seated dance sessions both face to face and online to celebrate the anniversary year of Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases. Content was tailored to ensure full accessibility and focused on improving mobility and flexibility in joint movement.
Collaborating with the National Trust and ReMind UK to develop and deliver a sensory Georgian ball experience for people living with dementia and their carers.
