Ballet to boost wellbeing for dementia sufferers
ELDERLY people suffering from dementia are being offered free dance classes from Scotland’s national ballet company to help boost wellbeing and reduce loneliness.
Scottish Ballet has been awarded funding to run free, weekly classes, which will also be accessible to family members including grandchildren from the age of 12.
Participants will also be given free tickets to attend performances, visit rehearsals and meet the dancers themselves.
Classes will take place in dance studios at the Royal Conservatoire and teachers are being given dementia training to bring activities out to care homes.
There is growing recognition that dance, including ballet, can improve balance, spatial awareness, confidence and fluidity of movement in the elderly. Some dementia studies have also shown that dancing has a protective effect.
The project builds on Scottish Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland project and is being funded by the Life Changes Trust, which has invested £3million in 14 dementia-friendly communities in 2015. Classes will also be held in cities where Scottish Ballet tours including Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Catherine Cassidy, director of education at Scottish Ballet, said: “Scottish Ballet has over 15 years of experience of leading ballet and creative dance sessions for older adults, including two weekly Dance for Parkinson’s Classes.
“We are absolutely delighted that, through our new partnership with the Life Changes Trust, we will be able to build on our creative health programme by introducing this exciting new dance and ballet project for those living with dementia and their families.”
The Evening Times has launched a year-long campaign to shine a light on a condition that is predicted to affect one in three of the population in future decades. Around 90,000 people have dementia in Scotland.
The ballet classes will start in March next year. Anna Buchanan, director of the Life Changes Trust dementia programme, said: “By funding a diverse range of dementia-friendly communities throughout Scotland, we are developing a deeper understanding of how to meet the needs of people with dementia and their families.
“A diagnosis of dementia can lead to social exclusion and isolation, but dementia-friendly communities can help prevent this by keeping people included and supported.
“This work will make dance more accessible, will raise awareness about dementia, and will explore the ways in which dance can contribute to the wellbeing of people with dementia.”