Musings of a Dance/Movement Therapist

This blog affords me the opportunity to share some of my greatest passions with you, the reader. Among my passions are dance movement therapy and the power of dance to inspire, uplift and heal. I will be bringing you my favorite images, quotations, stories, websites and books about dance and dance/movement therapy. I will share my love for and understanding about working with people with dementia. And, finally, this will be a gathering place for stories about the Octaband, a product I created initially for people with dementia but is now being used by people of all ages and abilities all around the globe.

Expressing Appreciation Build Higher-Performing & More Sustainable Team

Tony Schwartz has written an excellent article, "Why Appreciation Matters So Much", in the Harvard Business Review blog.

"Whatever else each of us derives from our work, there may be nothing more precious than the feeling that we truly matter — that we contribute unique value to the whole, and that we're recognized for it.

The single highest driver of engagement, according to a worldwide study conducted by Towers Watson, is whether or not workers feel their managers are genuinely interested in their wellbeing. Less than 40 percent of workers felt so engaged.

Feeling genuinely appreciated lifts people up. At the most basic level, it makes us feel safe, which is what frees us to do our best work. It's also energizing. When our value feels at risk, as it so often does, that worry becomes preoccupying, which drains and diverts our energy from creating value."

Encouragement and words of praise are much better motivators than negative criticisms. That does not mean that everything we do is great, but that positivity to encourage people to address one's growing edge is more likely to drive results than negativity.

The same is true for people with dementia. Words of praise and recognition of value go a long way toward encouraging people with moderate to advanced dementia to continue to engage in life.

Dancer Frances Wessels ~ Another Octagenerian Role Model

This video speaks for itself.

 

It is women like this who have inspired me on my career as a dance movement therapist. Wessels:

"healthier mentally as well as physically and emotionally" because I think we need to express ourselves in some ways.. . . People who can't express themselves in any way are often stuffed up.... All life is an improvisation and to be able to express it through movement is the most natural, healthful and happiness-producing way to be."

Thanks to Jason Akira Somma for his documentary, Frances Wessels A Portrait of 89 Years. Frances Wessels danced with Hanya Holm and Martha Graham.

Musical therapy is making breakthroughs

This article, Musical therapy is making breakthroughs in this morning's LA Times is very inspiring. In addition to being inspiring in its own right, it gives me hope that some day the MIT Media Lab might look at the work that dance plays in healing.

One comment I'd like to make is about the statement, "Music is usually the last thing Alzheimer's sufferers recognize." I think he means that recognition of music is usually the last thing they lose. Most of the people with dementia with whom I work seem to enjoy music. But music alone does not provide healing. It is the relationship and the interaction which brings healing.

I ran a dance therapy group yesterday for elders with dementia about whom I've written in previous articles. It had been several months since I've seen these folks. Two or three of them recognized me upon seeing me. Another recognized me only after I approached her and warmly greeted her. It took her a few seconds, but I saw the recognition in her eyes. I had about 20 people seated in a circle, some with eyes closed, others watching. When I first put on the lively recorded music, a few tapped their toes. I put ribbon wands into their hands, and with a nurse assistant and activities person helping me, they began to move their arms. I mirrored each person, gazing into their eyes, either from across the circle or right up close and expanded their movement or contrasted, doing whatever it took to make their movement just the tiniest bit bigger. I was looking for a brighter affect, more engagement. 

I played music with slightly different moods, from different time periods and cultures, but music that most would recognize. I was trying to capture their interest through variety. I played with them, and their eyes brightened as they recognized that. One Polish woman who spoke no English, new to the group and who initially refused to shake my hand, communicating clearly her disdain of me, saw that even though we couldn't speak the same language, I could see her. She could participate on her higher level of cognition as we played with changing leadership of movement. 

Gradually, as I changed music, props, put a felt crown on my head, then put it on one of their heads, shook my booty and shimmied with some of the residents one by one got the residents to their feet who were able to dance with me or the other staff. I used the music to change and build the group energy even while using a balloon.

One woman and one man remained unresponsive to the music. They did not appear to even hear the music. However, they responded to me, and to my facial facial communications. And the man responded to the balloon.

It was a beautiful site to see. Communicating nonverbally with each of them, yes using music, but more than that, using dance and movement to engage them. Letting them know that I valued each of them - it was that which engaged them. And the depth of engagement that we had with each other drew the other staff in, from administrators to nurses, cleaning people - everyone who walked by either danced by or danced into the circle.

I love my peeps and am so grateful to have the opportunity to dance with them. If only we could find the funding to do the research that would show the efficacy of what we dance movement therapists do, perhaps every dementia facility would employ DMTs. 

Quality of Staff Communication with People with Dementia Has a Major Impact on Their Quality of Life

Improving Communication Skills in Care of People with Dementia, an article in the Nursing Times.Net,reported the results of a study in the UK. (CSCI, 2008). While this report is about the quality of life for people in long term care in the UK, suffice it to say that in the UK these studies are being done. I have not yet seen similar research undertaken in the U.S. Following are excerpts from the article.

"This study, based on findings from 100 inspections of care homes, used the new Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) to examine the experiences of 424 people with moderate to advanced stages of dementia."

"Communication issues

While the report recognises that offering the appropriate level of support to people with dementia can be a difficult balancing act, it found 22% of people spent time in a withdrawn mood state at a time of day when people were generally engaged in activities. Those least engaged were those with the most severe communication problems and disabilities.

The investigation did find excellent examples of care, offered with warmth, understanding and tolerance. The data in the investigation report shows a ‘significant relationship’ between people being in a happy and relaxed state and being engaged in the world around them.

Issues surrounding maintaining privacy and dignity were highlighted in 18 out of 100 care homes. The report argues that impersonal assistance and a task-oriented approach undermine people’s sense of dignity and can lead to them being passive and silent. It adds that the quality of communication – both verbal and non-verbal – has a great bearing on how people with dementia feel."

"The CSCI emphasises that it is not just negative forms of communication that leave people feeling distressed; ‘neutral’ styles of communication can also have this effect. A neutral style of communication is defined as staff focusing on a task that needs to be completed, and lacking empathy and warmth.

The report also highlights the importance of promoting communication between people with dementia and family carers, the wider community and other residents."

"The report states that the quality of staff communication with people with dementia has a major impact on their quality of life. It concludes that a significant finding is the negative effect of neutral communication on the feelings of people with dementia, and stresses the importance of well trained and supported staff."

Dr. Meg Chang and I recently completed Nonverbal Communication Training for Caregivers of People with Dementia: An Embodied Approach, the training manual to accompany our trainings. Why an embodied approach. This approach is comprehensive, providing caregivers with the tools to be aware of their own communication style as well as what the person with dementia may be communicating. This is a how-to training program that empowers the caregiver/ staff / trainee to continually evaluate their communication, rather than 10 Easy Steps. After just completing the most recent 120 hour course in Laban Movement Analysis, I can assure you, there are NO easy steps. Every one of us is unique, which means that our communication styles are unique as well.

Contact me for information about our training programs.

Dance Therapists Talk about, Think about, Dance about ....

These are some of the topics folks have been sharing about recently on the American Dance Therapy Association LinkedIn group:

 

And 2 wonderful articles by Kimerer LaMothe, To Dance Is a Radical Act and To Dance Is (More than Just) a Radical Act in Psychology Today online.

No time to write right now. Am working on a dance assignment for Module III of the Laban Certification Training program. Talk about learning through movement. I was just talking with another student about how appreciative I am of all that I am learning through play at this stage in my life.

What Children Need

Brigitta White of Whole Me Programs just sent her thoughts after reading an article to empower parents to support their child's social and emotional development. Here's a link to the full article and below are her thoughts.

Children actually love to share. When they're babies, they like to give us things, and have us give those things back. When they're a bit older, they like to take a plate of cookies and offer one to each person in the room. When older still, they love the games that include everyone in the family. And when they are relaxed and feeling secure, children even love to see someone else enjoy their favorite things.

To be able to share, a child needs to feel a strong sense of connection, he needs to feel loved and warmly accepted. When he feels close to others and emotionally safe, he's not so desperate for the blue shovel or the green balloon. He can wait for a turn. He has what he really needs; a sense of connection buoys him through little disappointments.

But in order to relax and thrive, children need a few more vital things. Blue shovels and green balloons aren't on this list. My list of what a child needs to thrive goes something like this:

The daily opportunity to connect and be relaxed with someone who cares
Emotional warmth and welcome
Respect for his intelligence
Time for play
Lots of affection
Frequent opportunities to laugh together with others
Frequent opportunity to cry, in the shelter of someone's arms, when hurt feelings arise
Information about what is happening and why
Limits—enforced without violence—that promote safety and respect

Brigitta White is a dance movement therapist who teaches childrens yoga, dance and expressive movement in Virginia.

Dance Therapy with People with Parkinson's & MS

Dr. Miriam Berger, Director of the Dance Therapy Program at the Harkness Dance Center of the 92nd Street Y, says

"I love the Octaband... use both the large and small size for my Movement Disorders class (Parkinsons, MS, etc). One activity they love... we put a small bean bag ball in the center and bounce (to music) and count how many times we can do it... have gotten up to 400!"

That's the highest number I've heard about. Anyone else gotten higher?

The Octaband engenders curiosity, focus and a desire to connect with others. If you work with people who need motivation to help them achieve their goals, this is the time to get an Octaband. Waiting longer will only delay their achievements.

2011 Year in Review ~ Dance for Connection

2011 has been an extraordinary year for me and my newly reorganized business, Dance for Connection. Hopefully we will have our new website, Dance for Connection, up and running in 2012. Dance for Connection has a number of aspects, which include:

Dancing with Elders and People with Dementia

Continues to be my favorite part of the work. Playing and bringing joy to elders which continues to bring great joy to me. You can hear about what motivated me to do this work and some of my early experiences at 60 minutes 

Listen to internet radio with Alzheimers Speaks Radio Show on Blog Talk Radio

 

 

 Octaband

See the 4 minute video of the Octaband being used with children and elders. Thanks once again to videographer Sherry Moore and Expressive Therapist Adam Riccio and the children and adults who participated in the video.

Check out our Facebook page and "Like" us. Maybe it will make it easier for you to communicate with us.

You can also see the Octaband video that Music Together created.

We met lots of wonderful folks at the American Therapeutic Recreation Association conference where I led a 2.5 hour workshop. We also exhibited at the New England Region American Music Therapy Association on Cape Cod, Map through the Maze Massachusetts/NH Alzheimer's Association conference, Society for the Arts in Healthcare (SAH) conference in San Francisco in June, Pioneer Network conference in St. Charles, MO in August, American Dance Therapy Association conference in Minneapolis in October.

In 2012 we look forward to seeing the protocol for using the Octaband with the elderly and people with dementia which will be published in Karen Grote's next edition of Behavioral Health Protocols for Recreational Therapy.

Relationship-Centered Nonverbal Communication Training for Caregivers of People with Dementia: An Embodied Approach

Dr. Meg Chang and I have self-published the manual to accompany the train-the-trainers for this course.

I led a 20 hour training for a wonderful group of dance movement therapists and others at Kinections in Rochester, NY this past June.

Meg Chang and I and a panel of 3 of our original trainees at Friends Village, NJ ~ Patience Oakes, Tabitha Gifford and Linda Price ~ presented on the trainings at the Pioneer Network conference. Our work was well received and we had a lot of fun.

Meg and I also delivered our evaluation research findings in poster presentations at the ADTA and SAH conferences.

Back Pocket Dancers

Back Pocket Dancers, an intergenerational dance company of which I am a member, performed for the West Medford Community Center and the Somerville Council on Aging. We're available for bookings in the greater Boston area as of Spring 2012. Check out our video by going to joangreendance.com on YouTube. Click on Back Pocket Dancers to see excerpts of DANCE ME A STORY.

Module II of the Laban/Bartenieff Movement and Somatic Studies was an amazingly wonderful experience at Lesley University. It has helped me as a dancer, dance therapist, dance therapy educator, and trainer in nonverbal communication (to say nothing of myself as a human being). I'll be taking the next Module in January. Lesley will be offering another such certification program in May, 2012.

Woohoo! What a year! What to expect in 2012?  More blogging I'm sure. More dancing, hopefully lots of it with people with dementia. Am looking into setting up some trainings in nonverbal communication on both coasts, presenting at conferences in NJ and Albuquerque I hope. And the Octaband? May it continue to provide people with a sense of belonging. That may be the most important thing of all.

Dance Therapy and Dementia

It was nice to have the opportunity this morning on Alzheimer's Speaks Radio to share some of my experiences about what has motivated me to to do the work that I do with people with dementia, specifically dance therapy, training staff caregivers in nonverbal communication, and creating the Octaband. You can hear the podcast here at 64:24.

Listen to internet radio with Alzheimers Speaks Radio Show on Blog Talk Radio

 One thing I had hoped to do that I didn't have time for was to read a poem written collaboratively with a woman with vascular dementia with whom I worked for a couple of years. I guess I'll have to write that article....

Back Pocket Dancers ~ Book Now

 

Excited to share our promo video. We are looking forward to booking performances for spring in elder venues. If you know of anyone who would like to book us, please let me know.