What on Earth Does Dancing Have to Do with People Living with Dementia?

People often suggest that it is important to "Know the Person" when a person with dementia is living in a residence. By that, they usually mean to know the person's history. While that is undoubtedly a good idea and has helped me greatly in my work, most of the time that information is unavailable to me.

What is available is the person's movement in the here and now. Knowing the person can be an understanding of their aesthetic preferences in the moment. As I learned from my teacher and mentor, dance/movement therapist Norma Canner, knowing the person may be what rhythms they want to play using this waste basket and rhythm sticks. What sounds are they drawn to in this moment? What colors will they choose today?

There is an assumption that if the person wasn't interested in dance in the past, they won't be interested now. Turns out, that is irrelevant. I remember one woman who said, "I never danced before. I'm 93, and I was always overweight. I would never think of dancing. But look at me now. Here I am, dancing at 93!"

We may not know the roles a person has played, but that may become more evident as they move. I met John in an inpatient geropsychiatric unit. He had no interest in attending groups, but would walk the halls, always alert, ready to talk, to teach me something. “Come here” he motioned. Then he would show me photographs, saying, “See this one here?” After that I understood little of what he said. The rest of the story was gone - at least to me. As we walked and talked, I matched John's timing, his force, and his voice. I understood little of what he was trying to convey except his desire to connect, his dignity, commanding presence, and past authority as evidenced by his carriage. After some weeks, when I finally got John to attend group because of our developing relationship, he was unresponsive to the music. It was as though he didn't hear it. But when I pulled out the big red balloon, he came alive. He would throw the balloon very slowly and gently to little old ladies, but to me, he was quick, strong, and direct, with a twinkle in his eye. From that, I understood that he was someone who knew how to be an effective leader.

This image is of a different gentleman who loved both dancing and hitting the balloon. When he could no longer safely dance on his feet, he appreciated being able to move to music and engage with others.

“For in dementia our heartbeat remains when linear time frames have disappeared. Our breath continues when memory has gone. The tidal movement of the cranio-sacral fluid still washes back and forth, when we are no longer conscious of our human history. By quietly attending to our own body rhythms and those of the person with dementia, we are meeting them in a different place beyond the stories of this life.” ~ Jill Hayes

If you are interested in learning how to bring dance to older adults and people with dementia, I will be leading a 15 hour training at Newbridge on the Charles in Dedham, MA. Click here for more details.