English National Ballet: Dance For Dementia

This Dementia Action Week* (17-23 May), English National Ballet announces plans to support people whose lives are affected by dementia.

Central to English National Ballet’s Dance for Dementia programme is a new partnership with Barchester Healthcare which will see the Company deliver an in-house professional development programme for staff as well as a range of dance and music focussed live events and workshops for residents.

The focussed training programme will have the Company work with a number of Barchester staff in selected homes and begin in Autumn 2021 led by English National Ballet Associate Dance Artists and Musicians. Barchester staff will attend a number of special training sessions with the Company and help lead dance workshops for their residents. In addition, all of Barchester’s care homes will be invited to join in with a number of virtual event sessions which include taking part in creative dance classes and hearing from ENB’s Philharmonic Orchestra, costume department and other artists of the company. The virtual sessions will coincide with days of celebration including International Youth Day, Last Night of the Proms, Remembrance Day and a Christmas Special.

From January 2022, a series of workshops will then be delivered in person at selected homes.

Barchester Healthcare has been supporting families with pioneering dementia care in specially designed, dementia-friendly Memory Lane communities since 1992. The company strongly believes people living with dementia should enjoy a fulfilled and happy life, with specialist support to continue doing the things they love every day.  All Barchester staff receive specialist dementia care training to ensure they provide the best care for residents.

English National Ballet’s Executive Director, Patrick Harrison, said: “We are delighted to be working with Barchester Healthcare on this innovative partnership as part of our Dance for Dementia programme. English National Ballet is committed to making ballet accessible and inclusive for all and these sessions will allow us to bring the joy of dance to residents. The specialised training programme for staff at the homes will ensure creativity through dance can flourish in all settings.”

Barchester Healthcare’s CEO, Pete Calveley, said: “At Barchester, we embrace the very latest technology and techniques to ensure our residents can live a life that feels comfortable, enriching and connected. We are always looking at new ways to enhance our resident experience through partnerships and initiatives.  We are delighted to build on our existing relationship with English National Ballet to bring our residents a whole host of unique virtual experiences, workshops and training sessions throughout what I am sure will be a hugely beneficial year-long programme of activity.  We are incredibly grateful to English National Ballet for their support.”

The partnership follows a successful events programme in December 2020 which saw over 130 of Barchester Care Homes engage across 3 live Nutcracker themed events that explored movement, dance, music and costume for residents and patients to enjoy.