News

On point for dementia

Daphne Stedman sees the joy of dance at work in a dementia class

People seated move coloured silks through the air
Photo: English National Ballet

During National Dementia Action week from 13-19 May I took up an offer to look in on a Dance for Dementia class delivered by English National Ballet at Westgate House Care Home in Forest Gate. 

This programme is funded by the Backstage Trust, Linbury Trust, Vandervell Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation as part of English National Ballet’s Dance for Dementia offer, a relationship with Westgate Care Home, a Barchester Care Home in Newham near to the Ballet’s headquarters in Canning Town. 

The programme began in November 2022 with a series of six weekly dance and music workshops. Following a successful series of workshops, the Ballet continues to deliver three terms of weekly classes across the year at Westgate. 

The class I attended was led by English National Ballet Associate Artist Kate HartleyStevens, with live music provided by ENB Associate Musician Morgan Hayes. 

The class was chair-based, providing the opportunity for exercise and interaction both between those in the class, and with Kate. It was lovely to see people living with dementia, some in wheelchairs, moving to the music and joining in lighthearted, confidence-building interaction which Kate encouraged as we went through various dance routines. 

Kate told me after the class that she has noticed that participants “come out of their shells” during the class and that their confidence improves. 

Activity Coordinators at Westgate House, Kelly Meadows and Sandra Joseph, confirm that residents remember the class and look forward to it. It is definitely good exercise and fun! 

English National Ballet HQ is at Mulryan Centre for Dance in Canning Town. The Mulryan Centre for Dance is a dementia-friendly building, accredited by the Mayor of London and Alzheimer’s Society. Various dance classes are offered at this location. 

See their website for more details. www.ballet.org.uk/whats-on/ filter-type/ballet-class/


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