DanceWise
Moving into Living Well
DanceWise's Purpose:
DanceWise is a therapeutic movement experience for older adults. It is designed to ease each client into older age.
DanceWise addresses:
- physical limitations
- memory loss
- dizziness and balance concerns
- dependency on others for care
- social isolation and loneliness
- loss of self-esteem
- fear of death of self and/or peers
Each DanceWise group begins with assessment of therapeutic needs of both the individuals in the group, as well as the group at large. Using music, props, and lightness to engage group members, a safe and supportive atmosphere is created in which therapeutic goals can be achieved.
Some therapeutic goals might be:
- Use of a group to facilitate communication and sharing
- Emphasize social interaction and emotional expression for support
- Encourage gentle physical expression to establish body awareness
- Provide sensory stimulation for memory recall
- Promote integration of daily experiences to increase joy of living
DanceWise incorporates choreographed movement sequences, group rituals and improvisational movement to achieve therapeutic goals once identified.
DanceWise moves gently through these unique movement processes to stimulate interest in wellness and in making connections with others
Unique Benefits of DanceWise:
DanceWise gives older adults a sense of vitality, balance and achievement. Research proves that gentle movement can incite memory recall, improve cognitive functioning, and increase overall quality of life. DanceWise is a movement program designed to discover, prevent, and possibly reverse the negative effects of the aging process.
DanceWise clients may gain:
- Cognitive awareness and organization
- Body awareness
- Balance and coordination
- Spatial Orientation
- Improved states of alertness and relaxation
- Memory Recall
- Freedom of emotional expression
- Sense of self-worth and renewed integrity
- New methods of communication
- JOY and VITALITY
The American Dance Therapy Association writes:
Working directly on a body level, the dance/movement therapist helps individuals mobilize their physical and emotional resources to express feelings and to promote self esteem, physical skills, confidence, and independence.
DanceWise strongly complements the work of physical, occupational, and recreational therapists.
DanceWise services:
- Therapeutic movement groups
*Independent Living
*Community Senior Centers
*Assisted Living
*Nursing and Rehabilitative Care
*Adult Day Care
- Individual therapy sessions
*Therapeutic movement
*Expressive arts
*Bedside companionship
- DanceWise Workshops for Staff
- Expressive Arts Groups
- Support Groups for Families and/or Staff
*Caregivers
*Loss, Grief, and Bereavement Issues
Read about the DanceWise Creator
Email: jenny@movementgallery.com