Hype Dance work with anyone who wants to dance The grant was given to run dance & dementia outreach sessions with groups around Sheffield where music is a central part of those sessions. Music can evoke powerful memories and take the participants back to a past era for a short time. Throughout our lives, we listen to, take part in, and dance to music and sound. For people with dementia – even those who have lost their ability to communicate or are at the end of their life – music can be a powerful way to trigger positive feelings and connect with other people.
Listening to or engaging in music – for example, by singing, dancing or playing instruments – can help people with dementia develop and maintain relationships with others and improve their wellbeing .It can: - help them to express their feelings and ideas, verbally and non-verbally. act as a prompt for reminiscing - help them to ‘tell their story’ and share their personal history - encourage physical exercise, dance or movement -encourage social interaction, reduce isolation, and help to engage people in group activities
Music can also help a person with dementia to connect with the past by evoking memories, feelings and emotions that they might otherwise find hard to express. For example, they may find it easier to recall memories when they hear pieces of music that are significant to them – perhaps their favourite song from the past, or a lullaby they used to sing to their children. we cannot wait to hear how this goes.