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DANCEEAST LAUNCHES FIRST DANCE FOR DEMENTIA CLASS

05 Jan 2017

 

This Janaury, DanceEast is launching a brand new programme of classes for people living with Dementia and their family carers, in partnership with New Adventures & Re:Bourne and Dementia Pathfinders.

The classes are designed for family carers and those they support in the early stages of Dementia to share the experience together. The classes create the opportunity to socialise with like-minded people, benefit from improved mental and physical wellbeing and most importantly have fun in a high quality, energising dance class.

Re:Bourne, the educational charity of Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and Dementia Pathways have developed a Dementia-focused programme Dance For Life, which has delivered classes in care settings around the South East and was recently nominated for the ‘Outstanding Dementia Care Innovation Award’ at the National Dementia Care Awards 2016. Matthew Bourne is widely hailed as the UK’s most popular and successful choreographer and director, working alongside Re:Bourne and Dementia Pathways has enabled DanceEast to develop the Dance for Dementia programme using their research, skills and experience.

According to Carers UK, 10% of carers look after someone with dementia and with an ageing population this is set to increase; more husbands, wives and loved ones are taking on caring roles and seeing their relationship with the looked after person change. Dance as a shared activity makes an enormous contribution to physical, social and creative health and wellbeing. Through a shared social and purposeful experience, the carer’s role will be left at home for a few hours each week and the classes will help improve carer and non-carer relationships.

DanceEast has extensive experience of engaging people living with specific conditions together with their carers’ and families through programmes such as Hospice Dance Days working in partnership with East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice, and as a hub for English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s classes which take place weekly in the Jerwood DanceHouse.

Similar to the format of Dance for Parkinson’s sessions, Dance for Dementia classes will also end with refreshments and time for participants to socialise and get to know each other.

Classes begin on Thursday 19 January, and prior booking is essential. If you are interested and would like to find out more, call 01473 235572.

Dates: Thursdays, from 19 January to 30 March (no session 16 February)
Time: 1.30 – 3.30pm, including time for refreshments
Ticket Prices: £6 for two people, per session