The Octaband is a wonderful prop to use as a Maypole, celebrating Mayday.

In the first video below, Laura DeCesare is teaching an intergenerational group how to do the Maypole dance. We were not as quick to pick it up as her preschool children, but we had fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcifwms9daQ

Following is a series of photos of a group led by a Japanese music therapist with the Octaband as they did a Maypole dance. The images were provided to me by music therapist friend and colleague Juni Endo, whom I have unfortunately lost touch with since the Pandemic.

Next is an image of a child in the center with the Octaband resting on her head. You could have the tallest person play this role.

Finally is an image of the center of the Octaband with flowers in the middle in a group with people with dementia, led by dance/movement therapist Whitney Lee Peruzzi.

At a Memory Café in Westwood, MA, I placed flowers on the center of the Octaband as Whitney had. I played several songs, first Sweet Violets by Dinah Shore, to which we gently bounced the flowers on the center. Then to Tip Toe through the Tulips by The McGuire Sisters, we continued bouncing the flowers, while moving our feet as though on tiptoes. Finally, to Where Have All the Flowers Gone by The Kingston Trio, began shaking the flowers off, at first just a few and then riotously.

The Octaband and a little imagination go a long way to helping people forget their troubles and join together in joy.

#Octaband #DanceTherapy #Dancemovementtherapy #MaypoleDance #ExpressiveTherapy

Using the Octaband® in a Maypole Dance