Wednesday 18 May 2016

Community centred approach to health

From the London Arts & Health Forum
http://www.lahf.org.uk/guide-community-centred-approach-health

Lifemusic Portsmouth 2nd July 10.30am-12.30pm

The next Lifemusic workshop in Portsmouth is on Saturday 2nd July 10.30-12.30pm at Fratton Community Centre £7 in advance or £8 on the door, so book your place now by emailing: contact@janetayers.org
A fun morning for improvising using percussion (wood, skin & tuned), plus instruments and voice. Bring your own instruments or just use those provided. Hot drinks and homemade cake included too. Bring water to drink and a notebook.... and an open mind! Familes welcome, children aged 8 years and upwards. NB: it's a 2 hour workshop

Circle Dance for Dementia

I had a very enjoyable and inspiring time in London at the one day workshop run by Dementia Pathfinders. Liv McLennan led the 18 participants, all from different backgrounds; nurses and carers from care homes & day centres and community artists, through some wonderfully simple but effective dances.
I've always enjoyed dancing and since my training with Frankie Armstrong, (Natural Voice Practitioners, 2007), have come to understand how interconnected the voice and body are.
When people have dementia, the words may fail them, but as tone of voice and body language make up the bulk of how we communicate (93%) then movement, gesture, song and music become the language to communicate.
When we allow that shift to happen, when we let go and trust ourselves and the people we work with, then we make genuine connections. For the participants it brings them out of their inner world, addresses the isolation and lonliness they often experience, and allows them to be heard and listened to, giving them permission to contribute to the group.
At the training I experienced a very powerful, joyful and moving time, dancing in the circle, holding hands, moving with simple steps to familiar and old tunes, creating something new together.
I can't wait to start running a group. I might just start a regular circle dance group to get the practice in!
Watch this space
http://dementiapathfinders.org/circle-dance-in-dementia.html