Kath Kershaw and Cynthia Heymanson provide training for staff in Circle Dance and have worked together since September 2008. Circle Dance aims to offer both outer enjoyment and inner well-being.

Introduction

Dance and Movement have successfully been included in activities for people with dementia for many years. Making use of rhythm, music, touch and movement, allows the individual the opportunity to connect with, and relate to others. Research indicates that it contributes positively to the inner well-being of each person who takes part.

What is Circle Dancing?

Circle Dancing developed during the 1970s from traditional folk dance from around the world. There is a network of groups in the UK, where participants enjoy dancing together and can celebrate feelings of community and life events. The wide range of music allows the exploration of the social and cultural aspects of connecting lives.

How can it work for people with dementia?

Music has been selected from the Circle Dance repertoire and dances have been simplified and adapted for both seated and standing dance. The touch, holding, swaying, and simple repetitive movements allow the participant to feel safe within the circle. During the dance session comments and thoughts are often evoked and expressed. With the release of feelings people with dementia may be helped to communicate. The circle therefore provides an opportunity for expression and creativity. Facilitators need to have both understanding and experience of working with people with dementia together with an interest in dance and movement.

The scope of Circle Dancing

The dance provides an enjoyable form of exercise and movement. Staff have welcomed an activity in which people with moderate/medium stage dementia can engage. It offers the opportunity for a shared activity with partners, relatives and carers. It can be used in residential and day settings, assessment units, NHS and voluntary organisation groups with older people, people with learning disability, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities. It can be offered at Care Home social events, and Alzheimer's Cafes. Each track on the CD provided with the training course can be used for standing and seated dance.

The benefits of Circle Dancing

• Enjoyment at the time and enjoyment which may be recalled
• Movement and mobility; essential and required exercise
• Emotional and inner well-being, the circle and the type of music
• Reminiscence, Life History, and a tool to link to develop and refresh other activities especially reminiscence
• Relationships; contact/friendship encouraged/stimulated between users. Can provide a shared activity in group of users when some are diagnosed with dementia and some are not
• An activity that does not depend on conversation - for users less able to participate in discussion
• An activity which can be offered to younger people with dementia (also Learning Disability and Mental Health)
• Couples work and promotes their relationship sustaining
• Can be used at Relatives Social Events; scope for engaging relatives/families in activities
• Culture; the music is multi-cultural for users, carers and staff diversity
• Encourages staff to develop their confidence/skills to carry out activities
• Inclusive; both seated and standing dances in a session can involve mixed physical ability users to share an activity
• Fits in with The National Dementia Strategy & NICE/SCIE Guidelines No42

Circle Dancing in action

Below are two videos about Circle Dance; the first features a session with a Community Group, and the second provides clips and tips for Care Homes and Day Centres. You can also watch either in a separate window by clicking on the You Tube logo.

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"To start with it was just the two of us and soon users started to tap their feet and wave their arms; then most of them got up and joined in the circle. It was magic."
Day Centre Staff

 

"Circle Dancing will be an integral part of our activity programme because of the calming effect of the music, the benefits of group work, and how easy it is to dance when you drop the barriers."
Training Officer
at the end of a course

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I seemed to have lost everybody and suddenly found all these people again."
Service User comment
about Circle Dancing