Musings of a Dance/Movement Therapist

Sign up for Dance for Connection monthly newsletter.

Subscribe to Dance for Connection monthly newsletter here.

Energized by the Light in the Eyes of Each Person with Dementia

Energized by the light in the eyes of each person with dementia. That is how I feel when I lead dance, expressive movement groups for frail elders and people with dementia.

DMT group at Avita of Newburyport

That's what those of us who love dancing with people with dementia get from it. We are energized, enlivened. We and the people we work with experience joy and connection, as do the people, staff and family who see us. 

This is the story I'd like to tell for World Alzheimer's Month this September, World Alzheimer's Day 2019 and National Dance Day 2019, both of which were yesterday. This is the message I hope that people will hear.

The primary stories in the media have been "the lights are on, but nobody's home" and are often about "the long slow death". Words matter. Stories matter. People's lives matter. Indeed, there is suffering that happens as people lose their cognitive abilities, their memory. But that's not the whole story. There is also the possibility, and even likelihood, of joy and connection. Just bring in someone with expertise to dance and connect through the body. 

How can we, as people who like to dance and be in our bodies, matter in the lives of people living with a dementia?

This question guides the framework for the training I will lead on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2, 2019. The workshop is experiential and interactive, modeling the environment we bring to the residents of Bridges by Epoch in in Westwood, MA twice during the weekend.

Download Bring Dance flyer Nov. 2019

 

With curiosity, a nonjudgemental attitude, a deep respect for our individual differences, for our rich and varied life experiences, and with appreciation for the importance that we feel a sense of belonging, we will create a community together. It is the connection to community and a larger whole that we want to bring to bring to people with dementia. Moving from fragmentation into wholeness.

What we do is important. However, it is not more important than how we do what we do.

That's where the dance comes in. Dance is about how. It's about how we move our bodies to express ourselves, about how close or far, how strong or light.

2017 training in China

2019 Training @ 92Y

Dance happens in the moment. It's ephemeral. It can be spontaneous, no memory needed. Or the memory may be deeply embedded deep in muscle memory and simply emerge. The moment the dance is over, it's over. 

Dance adds embodiment, playfulness, and unlimited choices in how we can move. It turns out that choices are fundamental to our health and well-being. And you'd be surprised, that includes people who you think barely move. When we notice and appreciate the small movements, magic happens. 

The upcoming training provides theory, real life examples, practicalities, a protocol for an easily adaptable dance group, the rationale, language, resources, and time for integration. Some lecture and powerpoint included. A taste, as it were, of the complexity that goes into creating a joyous dance group for people with dementia.

If you enjoy dancing and are working, or would like to work, with frail older adults and people with significant dementia, are a dance teacher, dance/ movement/ music/ expressive therapist, family or staff caregiver, activity therapist, psychotherapist, or may want to volunteer to assist and want to bolster your skills, this training is for you. No degree, formal dance training, or previous experience is necessary; only the willingness to dance, play, learn, and grow. Some floor work is likely, although everything we do, of necessity, is adaptable to who we are, and who the folks we will dance with are.

At the risk of sounding like a phony Oriental rug going-out-of-business sale:

Please Note: This is likely to be the last training that I offer in the Boston area. To prioritize my skill set, I am unlikely to organize this training in the future. So if you think you'd like to take this training with me, NOW IS THE TIME.

Training: Bringing Dance to People with Dementia

Saturday, November 2, 2019, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Sunday, November 3, 2019, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Taught by a dance/movement therapist with over 40 years of experience.

Learn the skills to engage, inspire, and uplift frail older adults and people with dementia through dance and expressive movement.

Workshop topics include: aspects of dementia relevant to bringing dance, elements of dance, group leadership, theory, rationale, and practice, observing and participating in 2 groups with people with dementia.

Approved for 15 Category 1 CEUs Massachusetts for LMHCs. This course qualifies for ADTA Alternate Route approval., one credit or 15 CEUs.

9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day • 15 contact hours

Location: Bridges by EPOCH, 140 University Ave, Westwood, MA

Cost:

Register by October 2: $195

Register after October 2: $225

Light complimentary lunch and snacks provided.

Register here.

A few testimonials from past trainees, volunteers, and staff who have witnessed groups:

• What a beautiful thought provoking - heart sustaining - soulful workshop… Such a pleasure meeting you and all of our participants. Sandra Martire, trainee
• With newly added knowledge and components to the groups, I have observed some remarkable improvements, including increased engagement, larger range of movement, increased participation and staff cooperation. Crystal Peña, trainee
• One of the things that was remarkable to me was seeing people transform before my eyes when we started moving--very beautiful. Joan Ruffels, trainee
• Thank you for yesterday. It was amazing and the residents were in good spirits for the rest of the day. Kelly MacKay, staff
• Thank you so much for the wonderful program at the Newton Senior Center. We all loved it. Excellent Job. Yael Beniamini, participant observer

An article in Alzheimer's Today put out by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America just out highlights the importance of opening up communication through dance for people with dementia. Photos and comments by dance/movement therapist Jackie Gatto who works for the AFA as well as some quotations from yours truly.

It was in my capacity as a dance/movement therapist working with people with dementia 17 years ago that I first created the Octaband®. My image was that every person present would feel not only a sense of belonging, but also the esteem that comes from being part of community, fostering empowerment, and each person's contributions. The Octaband® has done that and more to change the experience and narrative about people with dementia.

Photo credit:

Priscilla Harmel

Need additional reasons for coming to study with me? Watch my ADTA talk about why dance and embodied caregiving are important for people with significant dementia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYF9_zKDrc8&t=216s

With colleague dance/movement therapist Meg Chang, I developed a manual, The Dance of Interaction: An embodied approach to Nonverbal Communication Training for Caregivers of People with Dementia.

I'd love to see you at the upcoming training to join the wonderful cohort that is evolving.

An Octopus Dance with the Octaband to Celebrate the End of National Cephalopod Week

One more octopus dance for young children with the Octaband® to offer to celebrate octopuses on this National Cephalopod Week.

Francesca Nicassio​ of psicomusic.it in Italy has the children draw their favorite music/movement activity for the day.

This child's favorite was "“Dance with Mimma the jellyfish”. (that's what they call the Octaband®.)

Dr. Theresa Purcell Cone, Associate Professor at Rowan University, NJ was gracious enough to provide me with the following plan:

 

Sleep  - Octopus is still in a low shape.

 

Wake Up - Octopus begins to slowly move.  This can be slow shaking or stretching. Then the Octopus slowly rises up from the ocean floor.

 

Swim - Octopus swims as it travels around the space.  You can designate one student to be a leader and determine the direction.  The Octopus can be moving up and down as it travels to show the movement of the tentacles.

 

Eat - the Octopus stops and finds something to eat. I used a stuffed crab toy, or any other item to represent something the Octopus would eat. The Octopus can move up and down over the food item to demonstrate eating. 

 

Sleep - The Octopus travels back to the starting place in the space and slowly lowers to the floor to return to sleep.

 

Dr. Cone also added signs and pictures to support the sequence and brought in a stuffed octopus toy and any other items to make the concept more concrete for young children.

 

You can also purchase Ollie the Octopus as support for your Octaband®/octopus dance.

 

 

 

Ollie the Octopus Offers a Way to Celebrate National Cephalopod Week

Did you know that it is National Cephalopod week? Apparently, it is June 21 to 29th, or thereabouts. 

Octopuses are my favorite cephalopod. Ollie the Octopus is a story I wrote, illustrated by Bethany Beers-Mullen. Ollie can be used as a simple story in its own right, or can be used with the Octaband® to create a group dance for children.

I created the Octaband® as a way to get people with advanced dementia who were no longer relating to other people to hopefully interact. I'm so glad to say that it worked, and continues to work, with people with dementia all over the world. I called the stretchy, colorful prop an Octaband® from the beginning, because its role in the group reminded me of an octopus. I imagined that each of the octopus's arms were reaching in different directions to get food and then fed the mouth at the center. (I didn't know at the time that the mouth isn't actually in the center, but on the lower side of its head.) Similarly, the Octaband® reaches out to each of the participants and feeds the group synergy. 

The Octaband® promotes group unity and cooperation, not only with people with dementia, but all people.

Here are some of the ways the Octaband® has been used as an octopus with children:

Lauren Schutte is a dance teacher for Social Shindig Service. She specializes in working with people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities on the NSW Central Coast of Australia. They do a warm-up to the Beatles' Octopus' Garden.

Dance/movement therapist Sara Rubinstein found that some children in a children's hospital wanted to wear the Octaband® as though they were an octopus.

Expressive therapist and licensed mental health counselor extraordinaire, Adam Riccio in Weymouth, MA. Adam put an octopus puppet on the center when he was working with a group of kids with behavioral problems. He found that just having them watch was very challenging. I can imagine it would be. He would suggest, "Let’s watch the octopus sleep in his octopus’s garden.“ He'd have the kids move to the Beatles song, "I’d like to be, under the sea, in an octopus’s garden in the shade”. And Adam said, "of course, the octopus has to do his exercises. So, let’s help the octopus do his exercises. On the count of 3, we’re going to lift the octopus up and try to catch him in the center. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but they love it.... And I like to torture them by counting really slowly ..... one ..... two ..... and then of course I’m the one who takes a deep breath in and out, once, twice, ....three. They lift it up, making the octopus in the middle rise up and try to catch it or not catch it and then 'Oh, we caught him' or “'We almost caught him.' 

Princess Sharon uses the Octaband® at birthday parties. She does a game she calsl "feed the octopus!" "We all stand up with it in a circle and slowly go in and in and in and when we get to the middle we all pretend to feed the center part and then we move back slowly together and make it grow, grow, grow!!"

In her work with children with cerebral palsy, dance/movement therapist Rachel Federman Morales said she sometimes uses the Octaband® with the image of an octopus and its many arms and "we are in the ocean and I improvise from there.... Exploring the levels -high, middle and low."

Dance/movement therapist Suzy Matheson used the Octaband® when she was working as an artist in residence at a summer camp for homeless children. She used the book The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister to enhance literacy skills through creative movement. "In this book the Rainbow Fish seeks guidance from the wise Octopus on how to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions. The children particularly loved dancing with the Octaband® while listening to “Octopus’ Garden” by The Beatles. Some movements included saying hello to the Octopus going into the circle, making different shapes in space (blue bands- up, pink bands- down, yellow bands to the side and then reversing the order), walking around in a circle with the Octopus, as well as going back into the circle to say goodbye when the song was over."

So you can see, many people relate to the Octaband® as though it were an octopus and many like to move with it to the Beatles' Octopus's Garden.

You can get your very own octopus (Octaband®) here. Or, for a limited time, while these limited edition (only 6) Octaband®s handmade in U.S. last, here on Etsy.

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree

I'm sorting through old papers, memories that I keep, but never feel like looking at. Taking a firm stand with myself, I went through one of many boxes. What a treasure trove it turned out to be!

Here is a Letter to the Editor that my dad wrote which was published in the Newton Graphic 9/14/95.

Thanks for the concerts

Summer is winding down. The concerts in the park are finished for the year. I shall miss them. It was an ideal setting for family gathering. The performances were memorable, precious, and in some cases, unique. I saw an unscheduled one that was priceless.

A cute little lass of 2 walked up to one of the rocks that were scattered through the area, circled the chosen rock. She looked around, whether for help, or to inspect her audience, I do not know. She tentatively lifted a leg to determine whether she could step up onto the rock. No, it was too high. So she took a more familiar approach. She dropped down to all fours, crawled closer, then lifted herself up to mount the rock. She stood erect, then walked hesitatingly to the edge and looked down. Jumping off, then climbing back on seemed like a lot of fun. She made her decision, set herself, closed her eyes, braced herself. Then she looked around again, she had to make sure people were watching.

Now ready, on your mark, she was set to go. Eyes tightly closed, she made her move. She jumped up into the air, not too high, just about two inches straight up. When she came down, she opened her eyes. She appeared surprised, she was back in the same spot that she had jumped from. Apparently she had thought she was jumping off the rock, but here she was standing right were she had started from. Time after time she posed atop the rock, and never did succeed in jumping off the rock. She stopped; and looked around for someone to explain and help; help her out of her dilemma. What she really needed was a hug. I sadly was not the one to administer it. And her own grandpa sadly was not around when needed.

I am looking forward to next year to see if the 3-year-old has mastered the art of jumping off a rock. The thought of seeing her, again, makes it all worthwhile...

So thanks, Mr. Mayor and the Newton Pride Committee, I appreciate it. - Irving Newman

I have long thought that the influences on my becoming a dance/movement therapist were my grandmother - who, although she spoke English, was a very quiet woman who communicated a great deal nonverbally - and my mother, who loved to dance. But here is my dad, describing in writing what he saw in movement with some objectivity and some interpretation. He was very sensitive regarding tone of voice, but I hadn't realized how clear he was in his observations. Plus, he was a writer! 

Dancing with People with Dementia an Antidote to Loneliness and Isolation

The picture the media paints of dementia is grim. Coping with dementia, as with any chronic condition, is challenging for sure. But is it the soul-robbing experience often portrayed? I think not.

True, the loss of memory and the ability to navigate one's environment and accomplish the tasks of daily living make life considerably more difficult. But it is the loss of attention, relationship, and esteem that have the greatest impact on the person living with dementia.

I speak from the perspective as a daughter of a father who had vascular dementia as well as being a dance/movement therapist with  30+ years experience with this population. In fact, how we approach the disease and the person with the disease can be an opportunity to practice Buddhist teachings. When I bring embodied presence, compassion, beginner’s mind, and non-attachment to outcome through the medium of dance to a person with dementia, I discover my own humanity as well as the humanity of the other. And frequently I find joy.

 

Coming up shortly are 2 opportunities to learn how to bring dance to people with dementia in 15-hour trainings, one in NYC, the other Westwood, Massachusetts.

Learn the skills to engage, inspire and uplift older adults and people with dementia through dance and expressive movement. We will look at the symptoms and the strengths of people with dementia and how we can best support them. Through theoretical and practical applications, considerations of essential elements and challenges, I will teach you how to customize your groups to motivate even heterogeneous groups of older adults to express themselves so that each feels seen, heard, and appreciated for who they are. We will learn how to "be with" and how to give language to what we are doing.

This 15 hour training has been approved for 15 Category 1 LMHC CEUs and for 1 R-DMT Alternate Route education credit or 15 ceus. Anyone who is using the course for the 1 Alternate Route credit must complete readings and assignments in addition to attendance in the program.

 

Bringing Dance to Older Adults and People with Dementia

Fri, Apr 12, 6:30 PM - 9:30

Sat & Sun, Apr 13 & 14, 2019, 12-6 pm

at the 92Y Harkness Dance Center, 92nd Street Y (between 91st & 92nd street), 1395 Lexington Avenue, NYC.

 

and 

Bringing Dance to Older Adults and People with Dementia

Sat., May 18, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Sun, May 19, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

at Bridges by EPOCH at Westwood, 140 University Ave, Westwood, MA 02090

Why take this training? I am passionate about the importance of providing dance and dance/movement therapy to people with dementia. You can see me talk about it here. To be as vital as they can possibly be, they need dance and embodied caregiving regularly. It was my desire to engage people with significant dementia that motivated me to create the Octaband^® and recently Octaband Links^®.

 

In hopes of providing tools for researchers, I developed The Quality of Life Movement Assessment for Persons with Advanced Dementia intended to discover which interventions are effective for which person, correlating Laban-based movement observations with quality of life parameters. With the help of friend and colleague, Dr. Meg Chang, I wrote The Dance of Interaction, a train-the-trainer manual to aid people in using an embodied approach to train caregivers in nonverbal communication. I have been interviewed multiple times about dancing with people with dementia; here is one of my favorite recent articles. And I have written numerous articles published in peer-reviewed journals to further our successes in reaching and enlivening people with dementia. My ongoing commitment to strengthen the network of effective practitioners and resources is resolute.

What people have said about the trainings: 

"I came to my groups today fully inspired and tried a new structure and focused on community building and fun. I led all levels including 2 assisted living groups that both stayed in circle after it was over and didn’t want to leave (they stayed chatting...first time that happened). I got my first response and smile from a memory care client with severe dementia. I got great feedback from an OT who passed by and watched for a bit. A new client with early stage Alzheimer’s is moving to a new facility and wants to 'take me with her'. . . With newly added knowledge, I have observed some remarkable improvements including increased engagement, larger range of movement, increased participation and staff cooperation.” Crystal Pena, student in DMT Alternate Route training

"I bring what I learned from your training into almost every client home by watching and listening carefully for the cues that let me into their brains." Gail Leichtman, Ed.M., LSW, Certified Care Manager, Your Elder Experts

“I loved your training! . . . My style of teaching has evolved. I have integrated the techniques that you taught us at the training. I am getting some great results, and feel I can really connect with many of the 20 residents. I found the training profound and wonderful.”
- Susanne Liebich, Dancing Wellness ™, Healing Motion For Life

I hope you'll join me at one of these two trainings to strengthen the community 

Excited about today's midterm elections playlist for my group with frail elders. Included in the playlist are: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, Ethel Merman's Anything You Can Do, Ella Fitzgerald singing Vote For Mister Rhythm, my all time favorite for these days, Bob Marley's Get Up Stand Up, Aretha Franklin singing R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Sinatra singing High Hopes (I think that was JFK's theme song), One from Chorus Line, and Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. Should be great fun.

The Octaband® a Device to Bring People Together

At a time when the U.S., and the world, are riddled with strife, the Octaband® is a tool to bring people together.

My understanding of health is a holistic one. It is the relationship between the parts, and between the parts and the whole, that bring health and healing. The etymology of the word "heal":

"Old English hælan "cure; save; make whole, sound and well," from Proto-Germanic *hailjan (source also of Old Saxon helian, Old Norse heila, Old Frisian hela, Dutch helen, German heilen, Gothic ga-hailjan "to heal, cure"), literally "to make whole," from PIE *kailo- "whole" 

As long as we attempt "fixes" that look only at the parts without looking at the whole, we will continue to fail. I love this quotation by American architect, Buckminster Fuller: "When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. But when I'm finished, if the solution is not beautiful I know it's wrong."

At this moment, I see divisiveness itself as a problem. How can we use the Octaband® to bring people together?

From the outset, set the intention for the group to work together (play) in such a way that every person has an opportunity to lead and to follow and where care is taken to preserve the Octaband® (i.e., not tear it). Look for harmony, balance, and joy as indicators that healing is happening.

Dance/movement therapist Devika Mehta of Synchrony in Mumbai, India, shared these photos:

Certified Movement Analyst Karen Bradley leads a weekly Community dance class, JustDance, in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia. Her website should be up shortly. She sent photos and a video of her adult class using the Octaband. 

Octaband Products Are on Sale until October 20

All of our products to get people moving, including the newest, are on sale, but only til October 20.

If you haven’t already seen it, we now have a 24-leg Octaband® with a beautiful purple center.

Second, Ollie the Octopus is a children’s book I wrote for children ages 3 to 8. Illustrated by expressive arts therapist and Lesley alum Bethany Beers-Mullen with her beautiful black and white illustrations. As Ollie the octopus explores his neighborhood, he reveals some of the many ways that octopuses can move. Used in conjunction with the Octaband®, Ollie the Octopus can be used by teachers of young children to educate about octopuses while inspiring them to move together as unique individuals and as part of a group.

And, third, see our newly developed Octaband Links®.

Octaband Links® are individual stretch bands with hems on each end, with multiple uses:

• perfect for resistance exercises for people with latex allergies or grasping difficulties
• for partner stretching for 2 people within close proximity
• for partner stretching for people sitting more than 36” apart by looping Links together
• used as a circular group stretch band of varying sizes by looping Links together, with both ends to be held by group leader

as extenders for the legs of the Octaband® for circles larger than the Octaband® permits.

Octaband Links® come in packages of 4 or 8.

All can be found on Dance for Connection’s new website. 

Any products you purchase and want to pick up at the 10th annual Arts in Healthcare Conference, September 27 at Washburn Lounge, Lesley University where I will be presenting, just notify me. I can bring the products to you before or after my presentations (before 4, after 7).

I believe Dr. Meg Chang and I will also be selling signed copies of our manual, The Dance of Interaction at the conference.

Octaband LLC celebrates 12 years in the market today!

It's hard to believe. Twelve years passes so quickly, but not without the Octaband® bringing a lot of joy and connection to people around the world.

From Australia, where Social Shindig used the new 24-leg Octaband 

to Forest Springs in South Carolina

and MELBOURNE BASED KIDS ENTERTAINMENT, again Melbourne, Australia

 a Parkinson's Music and Movement group

to Cambridge, Massachusetts

and to Italy, where Francesca Nicassio's music therapy kids draw their favorite activity of the day (they call it “Dance with Mimma the jellyfish”, their name for the Octaband®

people the world over are coming together, with the Octaband®.

Our new website is in progress, but you can learn about the Octaband here and purchase here, including the 24-leg Octaband, only available directly through Octaband LLC.

Stay tuned, as I will be blogging here again regularly (I hope), and letting you know about our newest products here as well.

 

This blog has lain dormant for the past few years, since I had a new blog on my old website. I will be reviving this blog as I now have a new website once again. You can subscribe to get notifications when new articles have been posted. www.danceforconnection.com and www.octaband.com