Improv Dance and Alzheimer's: An unlikely connection

Let me start by saying I’m not a dancer and never have been. Mom put me in ballet, tap and jazz lessons for a few years in my pre-teens, to try to help with my awkward stage, she said. I could eventually dance enough to perform passably in musicals now, but I have never considered myself a dancer.

Fast forward to pandemic lockdown. My daughter has danced since preschool at Arts Together, an amazing community arts school in Raleigh for all ages. I’ve taken a few random dance classes there over the years, for fun, exercise and stress-relief. During early lockdown Arts Together offered classes via Zoom in everything from Bollywood to adult ballet. My daughter and I danced together in our den multiple nights a week. It got us moving, kept us connected with people outside our house, and engaged our brains.

As lockdown dragged on, Arts Together began offering outdoor classes at Fred Fletcher Park. My daughter loves improv dance, so she was thrilled when Arts Together offered Creative Improvisation at the park. I quickly signed her up. Usually for her classes, I’d drive us to the park and walk the trails, listening to podcasts while she danced. But for this class she asked, “Why don’t you take it with me?” Improv dance required no level of skill.

My daughter is not daunted by loose guidelines. I, however, lean towards rules and structure and certainty. Those picture books without words are not my thing. But when your teenage daughter asks you to do an activity with her, you do it. So, I did.

Our class ranged from ages 10 to my 50 years and had about a dozen dancers ranging from Rainbow Dancers (Arts Together’s performance company) to my two left feet. Glenda Mackie was our fearless instructor. She is a gifted teacher, encouraging and enlightening. For 8 weeks, we danced together all around the park. Through improv we overcame the challenges of being masked and practicing social distancing by watching each other’s movements. I was nervous, while my daughter confidently leapt and gracefully performed the modern dance movements so familiar to her. I haltingly kept to simple steps I hoped resembled dancing. But I quickly learned a cool concept calling mirroring. I could watch another dancer’s movements and echo them. It called for concentration and truly watching what others were doing, being in tune with those around me. I could mimic the 10-year-old or copy the movements a fellow adult. The result was magical and empowering.

We had to move my mother, who has Alzheimer's, into a Memory Care facility during lockdown in March 2021. It was brutal because we were cut off from her for a few months (That’s another story for another day). When we could finally visit, we were masked, which created the need to use body language to aid with communication. My new Improv Dance skills quickly came into play. I had learned to truly read another person, their body language, and anticipate their movements. I see my daughter approaching my mom with that intuitive knowledge as well.

Alzheimer's will teach you to look at things in a different way, with more flexibility, like improv dance. The only “rule” is truly paying attention and letting the rhythm of the moment move you together.

I found greater connection with my mom through having a very special experience with my daughter. Stepping out of my comfort zone opened me to a deeper ability to connect. I learned a greater life lesson as well, being able to truly listen and feel those around me, all thanks to an Improv Dance class with perceptive and talented teacher. A bonding experience with my daughter, created one later with my mom that I will never forget.