Inviting our patients to dance for health
Forget the Strictly glitterball and the sequins… because dancing is just as much about feeling good as it is about looking glamorous.
Dancing for Health is a new collaboration between St Luke’s and Smartdanceworks of Chesterfield that aims to bring the joy of dance to people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
“Dancing has many health benefits, including improving physical, social and emotional wellbeing and keeping the mind and body active,” said our Deputy Chief Executive, Judith Park.
“We are launching this new scheme in April and it will be a partner dancing class which will provide the opportunity for a patient and their partner, family member or friend to learn to dance. And for patients who have danced in the past it will be an opportunity to take up dancing again in the safe environment of St Luke's.”
The Dancing for Health scheme, which begins at St Luke’s from Wednesday 27 April for eight weeks, will be led by qualified instructors from Smartdanceworks with support from our Physiotherapy team.
Smartdanceworks was established in 2009 by founder Tracey Barnes as a unique and innovative dance company with a vision to helping people through the art of dance. Having endured major back issues and spinal injuries herself, Tracey was facing surgery but with the gentle style of dance she learned, developed and now teaches, she strengthened her core muscles and improved tone and flexibility and greatly reduced her pain levels.
Participants in the Dancing for Health classes will have been recently diagnosed as terminally ill, but will still be independently mobile.
“The classes will be relaxed, fun and free and no experience is necessary.” Judith added.
“All you need is a partner, be that your own partner, a family member or a friend – and you’ll both have the chance to learn to dance safely at St Luke’s."
For more information and to book please contact Melanie on 0114 235 7521 or email [email protected].