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Day: March 18, 2017

Switch 2 Move

Switch 2 Move

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This weekend the content of the ‘Brain and Space’ MOOC from my autoethnography came in particularly useful when participating in a workshop aimed at dance teachers and movement practitioners with a focus on working with communities influenced by Alzheimers, Parkinson’s and MS. Knowledge of how our brain knows where things are and the body and mind connection was necessary whilst utilising critical thinking skills. The workshop questioned our methodology, expectations and our perception of dance. Dance is a creative activity that should be available to everyone. It is a medium for personal growth, freedom of exploration and expression. It is a form of language that can be communicated with emotion and empathy.  The communication can be with oneself or with another. Dance allows us to move with people with health conditions, not work with the health condition. Dance can provide a social community and a sense of connection with others through touch, eye contact and a sense of welcoming rather than an insular environment which unfortunately a majority of  individual suffer from a life-changing health condition. Inclusion is important, for some it may mean life or death. A dance session can relive a participant with Parkinson’s of their symptom for 5 hours to possibly 5 days. Providing opportunity to move can motivate some to transfer the movement skills into everyday life. Although class environment is important there has been discussions on providing ‘livestream’ classes to individuals at home to increase their access to a class and encourage daily movement. Can we create a community online that expands communication of the benefits of dance in wellbeing?

References:

Kozinets, R. V. (2010) Chapter 2 ‘Understanding Culture Online’, Netnography: doing ethnographic research online. London: Sage. pp. 21-40.