Dance for Dementia

Mulryan Centre for Dance

Spring Term: 22 January – 18 March 2024

English National Ballet are delighted to announce a brand new term of weekly Dance for Dementia classes from January 2024.

Dance for Dementia, a high-quality artistic, cultural programme, invites people living with Dementia and their carers to enjoy creative dance classes accompanied with live music. Following class, there is an opportunity to have social time with further opportunities provided including access to English National Ballet performances and behind the scenes opportunities.

Dance for Dementia offers welcoming and open dance classes, designed to engage the body and mind. Creating a space to creatively explore movement, these joyful classes are inspired by ballet and contemporary dance techniques, English National Ballet repertoire and include seated and standing exercises for all abilities. Classes welcome people living with Dementia, to share a creative experience along with their families, loved ones and carers.

Dancing encourages freedom and expression, whilst positively increasing strength, mobility, and wellbeing. English National Ballet’s classes are led by an experienced team of Associate Artists. Classes take place in-person at English National Ballet’s world-class studios at the Mulryan Centre for Dance in Canning Town, East London, a Dementia-Friendly venue (Mayor of London). Refreshments are provided after the practical dance classes.

The Mulryan Centre for Dance is a dementia friendly building, accredited by the Mayor of London and Alzheimer’s Society. Throughout the building there is dementia friendly signage recommended by the Alzheimer's Society. In addition, all relevant staff have received specialist training and are on hand to support you during your visit to English National Ballet.

All ages and experience levels are welcome.

"It puts me in a different zone, I can imagine myself somewhere else, you can sing and dance freely: there is no judgement here."

Dance for Dementia Participant

"Thank you again for such great care and consideration in ensuring it is a dementia-friendly environment. The consideration to mirrors, yellow indicator signage in the lifts, at exit points and the bathrooms provided great assistance for service users to orient within the building."

Specialist Dementia Day Centre Officer

Class Dates

Weekly classes take place on Monday mornings, between 11am – 12:30pm, on the following dates:

Monday 22 January

Monday 29 January

Monday 5 February

Monday 12 February

Half term: No class on 19 February

Monday 26 February

Monday 4 March

Monday 11 March

Monday 18 March

Schedule:

10:30am – 11am: Arrival and sign in

11am – 12pm: Practical dance class

12pm – 12:30pm: Refreshments

Location:

Classes will be held in-person at English National Ballet, Mulryan Centre for Dance, 41 Hopewell Square, London, E14 0SY. The Mulryan Centre for Dance is a dementia friendly building, accredited by the Mayor of London and Alzheimer’s Society.

The nearest tube station is Canning Town, that runs on the DLR and Jubilee tube lines. For helpful directions from Canning Town station to English National Ballet, please visit our webpage.

There are multiple blue badge spaces on the island for drop off or parking. English National Ballet also have access to car parking spaces in a car park behind our building. If you require a space, please let us know and we can allocate you one.

If you are interested in joining these classes, or require further information, please contact Georgia Clark, Dance Health Coordinator on 020 7590 2923 or dancehealth@ballet.org.uk

Cost: £32 for the 8-week term (including carers free of charge)