dance magic dance

A toolkit for creative dance in residential care settings INTRODUCTION Aims

Whatever the context or dance style participants should experience: Dance in care homes oers people a Enjoyment chance to take part in a fun activity Engagement that can have a number of really Mobility positive impacts. It’s a safe, enjoyable way for people to maintain mobility Opportunities for creative expression and at the same time have an Social interaction opportunity to express themselves It’s important that people have a creatively. choice about joining in. For some residents it may prompt Oer a shared dance moment rather memories of dancing when they than imposing or coercing people were young, taking part in jiving and to take part in dance activities. We other social dances. It can be fun always remember that this is people’s home and some people don’t want to to experience a seated version of have dance visited upon them as they Strictly Come Dancing. Alternatively relax in the lounge. So we need to find participants might enjoy some gentle a way of tempting residents to join us creative dancing with props such as in dance and respecting their right to scarves and feathers. say no if they don’t want to.

“….older people are not a category apart. We will all grow old one day – if we have that privilege, that is. Let us therefore look at older people not as people separate from ourselves but as our future selves. And let us recognise that older people are all individuals with individual strengths and needs, not a group that are all the same because of their age.”

KOFI ANNAN (2002) UN WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING, MADRID

creativeageing.co.uk PLANNING A DANCE SESSION WITH OLDER PEOPLE

Health related benefi ts

The following list includes some of the positive impacts on health. It is useful to consider which of these are priorities for the individuals in a group. Dance which is o ered as part of a falls prevention Why dance? programme will have di erent priorities Dance is a combination of patterns from a session in a continuing care ward – it helps create change. If we just for people with dementia. do repetitive exercise we get stuck in certain grooves. Dance creates Improve balance change – change means less fatigue – variety is stimulating. If people are Improve circulation stimulated they are more likely to Mobilise joints want to carry on attending. Retain / regain mobility It’s important to remember that Improve muscle tone dance is an art form and has the potential to engage the whole person Promote quicker reactions – it o ers an aesthetic experience Mental stimulation and opportunities for self expression. These are just as important to well- Improve posture / co-ordination being as the exercises which build Improve continence / strength and increase fl exibility. bowel function

Having fun / laughing

Alleviate depression

Social interaction MANAGING ROLES

If you have support workers or volunteers in the session think about what their role will be. Guidelines for leading Do you want them to join in or observe? group dance sessions It’s worth thinking this through beforehand – sometimes people’s, Allow time for participants well intentioned, helper behaviour can to respond be quite disruptive. Resist the temptation to intervene It’s a good idea to have a chat with if someone is not moving in the way support workers beforehand and share you would expect. All contributions with them the above guidelines. You are valid and there is no wrong way could also ask them to: to respond (unless movement is inadvisable on medical grounds). Join in the activities and show a positive response. Their interest Give help on a 1:1 basis if someone has and enthusiasm is more likely to di™ culties (eg hearing / vision loss) encourage participation than repeating or asks for help dance leader instructions. Do not passively move Try to stay for the whole session and participants’ limbs only permit those interruptions that Lead as non-verbally as you can are absolutely necessary (eg respond to non-urgent phone calls after Take your lead from the person rather the session). than giving instructions. Adapt your approach to suit the individual participants (in this work ‘one size does not suit all’)

Try to have fun – an enjoyable few minutes may be a real joy for the individuals and for you.

creativeageing.co.uk IDEAS FOR SEATED DANCE ACTIVITY

Dance sessions can be done with small or large groups, in any room where TOP TIP: people are able to gather comfortably. If there are people with dementia Sessions can be as long or short as you in the group you may need to say need them to be. Whatever the length of their name and suggest a move or your dance session try to have a simple be ready to copy any small gesture structure that includes: they make. An introductory activity 1 or 2 warm ups At least 1 creative activity

A cool down or ending

Introductory activity

Gently roll a large ball or tap a Go round the circle and each large balloon to each person and person says their name and makes 1say their name. Alternatively use a 2 a move. Everyone repeats the name soft toy or bean bag – something and the move. which is easy to catch. WARM UPS

Here are some tried and tested warm Seated Exercises: up activities – feel free to make up your own and be ready to follow residents Lower Body who initiate a move. The main aim here is (Music Track 2 A Jig and a to work the main muscle groups and Caper JABADAO) suggest ways of putting joints through their range of movement. There is no Tap feet slowly (to the half beat) need to include all of these activities and Lift heel leaving ball of foot on fl oor it may be appropriate to just do a few Tap toe then heel – change legs repetitions rather than allowing the Roll from toe to heel – change legs activity to continue to the end of the music. Marching Charlie Chaplin steps Tap ball of foot on coloured spot on fl oor, change to heel. Repeat with other foot Lift leg and lower. Repeat with other leg Lift leg – then circle foot slowly in both directions. Repeat with other leg “Free style movements”. Shake and pat down

creativeageing.co.uk WARM UPS

Seated Exercises for Elastic Stretch Upper Body (Music “The Stripper” Joe Loss – from (Music “Java Jive” The Inkspots) ‘The Full Monty’ soundtrack)

Circle shoulder backwards A fun activity which gets the heart beating faster. All hold a large piece of soft Rock your baby stretchy elastic, stretched around the circle. Raise arms and look through the space Hold and kick legs – changing Stir stew – large movement legs each time clockwise and anti-clockwise Hold and kick – stretching out Royal wave – change direction – with arms change arms Wind the bobbin up – then pull, Pretend to catch ‘bubbles’ with pull, pull a clap Finish freestyle Paint the fence – change arms Pinch together fi nger to thumb – This works well to ‘The Stripper’ music - each fi ngers – then change hands you could also try free move to a slower piece of classical music. There is no Play imaginary piano right or wrong way - the challenge is to Play your neighbour’s get the ‘fi t’ right for your group. imaginary piano CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

Feathers Expanding (Music – any gentle piano music such as creative activities Einaudi collection) Dance is a wonderful way to make an Seated in a circle, a feather is passed event of your activity. Think about your round with gentle music playing in the session in a wider context. What about background. seasonal activities, Morris Dancing in the spring? A tango for Valentine’s Leader moves around the room Day? Have some fun with your creative asking individuals to ‘blow’ the activities. Could you tie it into a TV feather o the back / palm of show or regular movie night? her hand. Feather is then blown / caught from Strictly Come Dancing person to person around the circle. Try adapting a cha-cha or tango and Introduce a second feather going the perform it seated with ‘ballroom hold’. opposite way around the circle. Participants may enjoy dressing up with In pairs or threes people pass the feather boas and long gloves. feather back and forth ‘playing’ and exploring ways of blowing / patting / passing the feather. Seated tap dance Home made tap shoes – buttons sewn Scarves onto a band of fabric or elastic or a (Music – try classical music and then fabric. Add some sticks made from something livelier like a Charleston) doweling and a few bowler hats and you can have your own musical theatre Explore dierent ways of making routine. (Make sure no-one stands up scarves move wearing the ‘tap shoes’). Make a scarf dance in small groups

Have a ‘question and answer’ dance: A moves – B responds …A moves – B responds etc

creativeageing.co.uk COOL DOWN & ENDINGS

Cool down Small dances & 1-2-1 (Music Track 6 A Jig and A Caper Dance isn’t just about working with a JABADAO) large group and it may be di™ cult for you to get a group of residents together all Encourage residents to gently at the same time. Sometimes it’s easier stretch our right leg then left leg to work with people in small groups or Open arms outwards in a even one to one. This can be an e ective gentle stretch way of engaging hard to reach residents - perhaps people who are no longer able to Hug arms into the body communicate verbally or even residents who are in bed. You can try and engage a small group Endings of people in the lounge or individuals in Some groups enjoy slow movement with their own rooms. Play tunes on a wireless LED tea-lights in the palm of the hand. music system – or even use your phone – to tempt someone to join you for a gentle Alternatively, if you have a few helpers, mirroring dance with scarves or a lively you could o er a very gentle shoulder rub hand jive to some rock and roll music. and ask people for feedback about the session. DUTY OF CARE – KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE

Think about the pace of the activities – and plan for a range of abilities and energy levels. The participants don’t all have to be moving at the same time – try dancing with people one after Resources the other. Find ways of building in short breaks – half the group could watch whilst the JABADAO Sell music CDs and other resources other half dance, or you could have to support dance sessions. a couple of quiz questions between www.jabadao.org each activity (e.g. “Who is singing this song”? “What dance would you do to this music?”). People Dancing Seek advice from the doctor about Foundation for Community Dance – anyone with a health condition that the UK development organisation and membership body for community and gives cause for concern. participatory dance. In creative activities, where there are www.communitydance.org opportunities to experience playful, spontaneous movement, make sure Amans, D. (2012) that participants’ enthusiasm does Age and Dancing: Older People and not result in them overexerting Community Dance Practice themselves. London: Palgrave Macmillan Pay attention to each individual and watch out for any changes that give cause for concern (e.g. breathlessness, signs of discomfort).

creativeageing.co.uk WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Since 2015 Dance Magic Dance has It has many physical health benefits worked with five professional dance including improvements in balance, artists and their mentor Diane Amans strength and coordination, which can exploring how creative dance can help reduce the risk of falls, often a be used in care homes to engage significant health risk factor in later residents, sta and their family and life. Creative dance based activities friends. provide the opportunity for individual This has happened through 20 artist self-expression, creativity and residencies, which have taken place in communication through non-verbal care homes across Herefordshire. channels. This allows for thoughts and feelings to be expressed in new and This toolkit has been developed to dierent ways in a safe and supportive support Dance Magic Dance and aims environment. As it is not dependent on to be a simple way for people who language based communication it is work with older people to develop their an ideal failure free activity for a range own creative dance activities. of participants of varying abilities and Dance is both a social and creative needs. activity and, as such, can benefit both the physical health of older people and promote a sense of well-being and social inclusion.

Project Statistics

1 Mentor 428 240 Older people Sessions 5Artists took part

9 People 24 21% Men # average per Residencies session 79% Female 2123 8 Attendances Training sessions This toolkit was created by Creative Ageing in collaboration with Diane Amans to support the projects ‘Dance Magic Dance’ and ‘Making of Me’.

The Courtyard Centre for the Arts Edgar Street Hereford Herefordshire HR4 9JR creativeageing.co.uk

This toolkit was made possible by the kind funding from Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund, The Baring Foundation and Arts Council England.