In moving company

Dance and movement therapy to support mental well being. Sessions are designed with an emphasis on fostering creativity and adaptability, developing greater cognitive flexibility, self-regulation and self-direction.

Evidence-based dance programmes have been shown to improve the functional health of participants and also lead to sustained improvement to psychosocial states. Studies have found that:

• Dance is a complex intervention, which provides an appropriate challenge for service users in acute mental health settings while contributing to a sense of biopsychosocial integration. As such, it has much to offer contemporary occupational therapy.
• Three months of dance classes were effective in reducing the depression status of second- and third-age dancers. Specifically, the biggest changes concerned a greater satisfaction and improvement in their lives, a greater interest in activities, less boredom, a good mood most of the time, greater happiness throughout the day, and the perception of a wonderful life.