BS: Dance for the Disabled

Subject: BS: Dance for the Disabled
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 04:23 PM

Even though I was terrible at dance after 7 years of enforced ballet, tap and point (I grew up next door to a dollar a lesson dance studio) I love dance. Love to watch most forms of movement to music.

I start tapping my feet, swinging my hips, drumming fingers as soon as I see someone else dancing. It is motion contagion.

My Mom ballroom danced into her mid 70's. She was still doin jump jive in her 60's. She still has the poodle skirt and black and white saddle oxfords.

Well as I said never was very good, but now that age and rheumatoid arthritis are fusing my ankles, knees and hips into solid unbending lumps, I really am grieving the loss.
I discovered Morris Dance too late to participate and that really blows.

Now wondering what movement to music is out there for the physically (and somewhat rhythmically) impaired.

Any ideas?

Subject: RE: BS: Dance for the Disabled
From: Rasener
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 04:39 PM

I have the same problems and it is so frustrating. I have played sport all my life and now I can't.

I would love to be up there with all the other healthy people who can do sports etc. However, if I try any sort of exercise, the pain comes back with a vengance.

So I have learnt that I have been very lucky up till about 6 years ago. Therefore I have to take it in the teeth, as I have been luckier than most and I still have a full set of hair at 64 :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Dance for the Disabled
From: Joybell
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 05:04 PM

I've been introducing people, with limited movement and such, to Play Party. This kind of "dancing" lends itself well to adaptation because it's self-paced. Or paced by mutual consent actually. You sing the dances unaccompanied by instruments.
I've had elderly people singing and dancing quite complex dances like Virginia Reels. We started with more simple ones. At one point the local Day-care group was teaching the children of the little nearby school. Tradition carried by the Elders to the Children. So good.
Some of my dancers used canes and walking-frames, some had problems of sight and hearing, some were suffering from dementia. Everyone remembers those old songs/games from childhood.
Virginia -- I wrote a small booklet on the subject. If you're interested send me a PM.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Dance for the Disabled
From: Rasener
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 05:08 PM

Why is this in BS. It should be in the music section as dance is part of folk. Up above elfs please.

Subject: RE: BS: Dance for the Disabled
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 05:10 PM

Tam, Sit and Be Fit is a US program you might look into.

Sports-- look into adaptive sports and just make their principles work for you. Be creative. Ask any physicial therapist how to adapt a known game into an adaptive game-- they can do it for you. So can preschool teachers who simplify games for littlest ones.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Dance for the Disabled
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:16 AM

I have danced both Ballroom and Morris but was never much good at either:-( However, I am a Tai Chi teacher, although I have not practiced as such for a few years. But when I did we had people with all sorts of disabilities in the class. May be worth you investigating, Villan?

Anyroads - back to the dance. As one of our memebers had only one leg and another had a severe balance problem they performed much of the form either sitting or standing in a pretty much static position. I am sure that if we could modify our style there must be people have done the same with dance. Have you tried looking for ordinary dance groups in the area and checking whether they do routines modified to suit all abilities?

Cheers

Dave