Dance for Neurology
Specialist dance sessions designed to complement physiotherapy rehabilitation for neurodisabled people with conditions like MS and acquired brain injuries.
Over 10 million people in the UK are living with a neurological condition, with many reporting feeling unseen and deprived of choice in their care. Originally funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, our Dance for Neurology programme seeks to change this.
Currently commissioned by the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability as part of its rehabilitation programme, we deliver seven weekly Dance for Neurology sessions across multiple wards. The work’s growing reputation has led to further commissions at St George’s Hospital, Trinity Hospice and Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Our data shows that engaging in Dance for Neurology sessions leads to statistically significant improvements in patients’ well-being, range of motion and social interactions.
Families who attend with a loved one report feeling more connected with each other through a shared experience that is so often absent in clinical settings. Patients have become Lived Experience Consultants, collaborating with our Artistic Team to shape our performance and installation work. Patients’ capabilities have been reassessed following Our sessions have unveiled aspects of mobility and physicality in patients that staff were previously unaware of, leading to a reassessment of a patients’ capabilities.
“I’ll never forget how you helped me to dance. The way you helped us to use contact with each other – it was the only time of the week I was able to be touched by someone when it wasn’t to stick a needle in me. You’ve no idea how much those sessions meant to me.”
“We have all loved having CoDa on [our] Ward. We have seen some wonderful participation from patients with a variety of abilities. Barriers that are often so apparent in the patients’ day to day life seemed to be lowered when engaging in dance. There is always plenty of smiling and laughter from both staff and patients when CoDa are on the ward.”
