Donna Newman-Bluestein, MEd, is a dance/movement therapist who has been dancing with older adults and people with cognitive impairment for more than four decades. Since 2002, she has focused entirely on transforming the culture of care for people with dementia through dance and embodied caregiving.
meet the founder:
Photo by Art Illman for Wicked Local
donna newman-bluestein
BOARD Certified Dance/Movement Therapist, Certified Movement Analyst, Licensed Mental Health Center
2023 Maude’s Award Recipient for Innovations in Dementia Care
Donna Newman-Bluestein, MEd, is a dance/movement therapist who finds her calling in dancing with older adults and people with cognitive impairment. She uses dance and embodied caregiving to promote relationship-centered care, transforming the culture of care for people with dementia.
For 40 years, Donna has spread the joy of movement in institutional settings. She sings and two-steps, greeting everyone by name, shaking hands, and gathering nearly two dozen cognitively-impaired seniors into a group circle. Over the course of the session, people become disarmed—swaying and bouncing in their wheelchairs, tapping toes and waving arms in time to the music—and her therapeutic skills become brilliantly evident. More than just fun, Donna’s dance engagement is a form of psychotherapy she has been practicing since 1978 with people from ages 3 to 109 dealing with mental illness, chronic pain, coronary artery disease and dementia.
Since 2002, Donna has been focused exclusively on transforming the culture of care for people with dementia (whose condition fosters loneliness and depression) through dance and embodied caregiving. While some may only be able to muster a nod of the head or a flitter of fingers, almost all leave her sessions with a smile and a greater sense of community, alertness, and well-being.
our Mission:
We help people who are living with dementia lead the most vibrant lives possible.
For the past 5 decades, we have witnessed the transformative nature of dance facilitation that is person-centered, built on the spontaneous movement of each person. The more fully people feel connected to their bodies, hearts, minds, and spirits, the more likely they are to continue to contribute their unique gifts, resulting in a greater sense of esteem and belonging.
our vision:
We envision a future where every person living with dementia in a senior residence is offered dance and embodied caregiving on a daily basis.
Beyond Teaching
In addition to her work as an educator, Donna is an international workshop leader, trainer, and consultant. Her work includes:
The Octaband®, an interactive tool that helps people connect through movement, now used successfully around the world
The Quality of Life Movement Assessment, which evaluates a person's movement to indicate their level of interest and meaningful engagement
Publications: articles, a book chapter, and a professional manual, The Dance of Interaction, co-authored with Dr. Meg Chang
Donna continues to take dance classes and performs with the intergenerational dance company Back Pocket Dancers. In 2023, she received a Maude’s Award for Innovations in Dementia Care.
