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As someone who has been a dancer for many years, I know first-hand the beauty, joy and connection dance can bring. Combining music and movement offers tremendous advantages to people developing dementia.

Dancing is an expressive art form that enables people to communicate feelings and establish deeper connections with one another. Dancing is a form of self-expression and emotional release for people with dementia who may find it difficult to convey verbally. Dancing allows people to express themselves genuinely and meaningfully connect with others and their inner selves. It doesn’t need to be taken too seriously, it can be a joyful, funny, and sociable activity that may improve mood, lessen anxiety, and generally improve mental health.

Whether they are swaying to a familiar music, improvising to a new beat, or just letting free and having fun, dancing and music have the ability to stir up memories and provoke flashbacks. Songs and dances from the past might bring back memories and feelings connected to certain moments and experiences. Dancing can assist people with dementia re-establish a connection to their past and sense of self by acting as a bridge to the past. One example of this is the life of former ballerina Marta Cinta González Saldaña who developed Alzheimer's in her later life. Marta, originally from Spain, formed a ballet troupe in Cuba in the early 1960’s and then ran a dance company in New York before becoming a ballerina for the New York Ballet later in the decade. She was played Tchaikovsky’s iconic ‘Swan Theme’ from Swan Lake. She mimicked the dance she learned years before. While dealing with feelings of remembrance and sadness, Gonzalez receives admiration from the audience after her performance

I would like to think she felt a sense of accomplishment and confidence and she danced. An individual’s confidence and self-worth may be increased after taking part in performances, learning new dance moves, and mastering choreography. It enhances people's sense of general well-being by making them feel proud and accomplished.

In conclusion, for those dealing with dementia, dancing can stimulate their senses, arouse emotions, and encourage cognitive engagement. Dancing can assist people with dementia re-establish a connection to their past and sense of self by acting as a bridge to the past. Dancing can be an enjoyable addition to dementia care programmes, giving those impacted by the illness new chances for enjoyment, self-expression, and meaningful participation.

It starts with just one step, and then two more...

Photo credit: Daily Kos