This spring, it’s been lovely to have been out and about meeting members, partners and supporters of People Dancing, especially the community of the Wales Wide Training Programme (WWTP) managed by our friends at Rubicon Dance.
The WWTP creates and connects a network of 27 partner organisations and 330 individuals working together to support training and professional development for the community dance sector across Wales.
A recent focus for training has been to bring together and support a
wide range of community dance teaching artists, practitioners, musicians from across North and South Wales who currently work with or have an interest in working with people living with Parkinson’s.
It’s been an enriching experience for me to share with Welsh colleagues what we have learned from the Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s programme, alongside observing, dancing and learning about the breadth of dance and participatory practice with, for and by people living with Parkinson’s during my time there.
Sessions I have been to in this series have focused on several approaches to dancing with Parkinson’s.
These have included meeting South Wales based freelance dance artist, Sophie Lorimer, who teaches classes for the early-onset Parkinson's community (inspired by her Mum, also living with Parkinson’s); the Strictly Parkinson’s group in Powys who have been dancing together for 10 years with dance practitioner and academic Heidi Wilson; and a group of dancers who gather for their regular class with the inspirational Jamie Jenkins at the beautiful Holroyd Theatre, Oswestry, Shropshire.
Heidi shared with us her ongoing reflections and learning about how the needs of this group have changed over the years and how the role and skills of the dance leader shifts and adjusts in partnership with and alongside the group... "So what is the role of ‘care’ in this context and how as dance practitioners do we fulfil the multiple things required of us? How do practitioners respond to the ebb and flow of time, the desires of the group and taking care of the self as practitioner in this context?"
At the Holroyd Theatre I met Helen Wyn Pari who shared her work as a harpist playing for groups alongside Angharad Harrop and National Dance Company Wales in their Dance for Parkinson’s programme and I also joined Jamie’s Dance for Parkinson’s group in a joyful session, accompanied by Helen on the harp!
Alongside our Welsh colleagues, it has been so valuable to reflect on the approaches and impact of the Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s programme and share some of our learning across this national context of practice. People Dancing is currently developing the ‘Blueprints’, a space where resources, films, images and learning for the Live Well programme will be made available.
It is by sharing and learning through a dialogic and practical exchange facilitated by the WWTP initiative and organisations like People Dancing, we ensure that the practice of dancing with Parkinson’s continues to grow, thrive and develop across all the nations, always of course taking place alongside our ever growing community of participants and colleagues.
"I haven’t yet branched out into teaching Dance for Parkinson’s, but I am very interested and have been trying to find ways to build my experience and confidence. This was perfect and gave a good oversight into the realities of working in this way, with these communities and the possibilities and obstacles faced. The face to face training was very useful to build and reestablish connections, network and find opportunities for further observation/volunteering to gain more experience beyond the CPD Day." Participant.
"I really enjoyed today’s CPD session and the opportunity to think things through in such lovely company. Thank you! So great to have People Dancing in Wales!" Participant.
Wales Wide Training Programme has funding support from Arts Council of Wales - Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru and The Waterloo Foundation. With thanks to Tracey Brown, Stakeholder Manager - Rheolwr Rhanddeiliaid
Rubicon Dance.