“Thank you so much for everything you do.  It helped me improve my physical and emotional wellbeing.  I feel very happy after each session.  I want you to know you are making a difference.

Project Overview: Debbie Brooks is a Wellbeing Consultant for Penny Brohn UK (Integrative Cancer Care), working from GenesisCare Milton Keynes with patients undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer.  Diana Christie is an applied Drama and Dance Facilitator specialising in inclusive practice with vulnerable participants. Debbie and Diana used their complementary skills, experience and expertise to provide six weeks of dance and movement workshops for people living with and beyond cancer.   The sessions worked with the participants’ abilities week by week and the group were challenged whilst still being safe and supported. The participants were a range of ages and all at various stages in their cancer journey. The entire project was funded by LifewithArt.

The Purpose: The sessions were about dancing for joy, support, connection and fun, as well as engaging in physical activity and developing helpful skills.  Dance can take you out of your mind at a time when there can be a lot to think about and put you in your body, exercising the physical, emotional and social self at the same time.   It can also help participants with an experience of cancer to view their bodies in a positive way; not as a body challenged by medical and surgical treatment, but as one that can move, connect and dance.  It can provide a sense of control in life when so much may seem beyond reach.

Content Each session started with a welcome and check-in before Debbie led the group in some self-directed massage and Diana followed with a mobilisation of the body and warm up.  From there the content varied weekly to introduce new creative exploration whilst also recapping and building on skills from previous weeks.  Some of the work covered included:

  • Exploration of qualities of movement using choreographic words such as push, flick, roll, float, extend

“It feels amazing.  The pushing motion was like pushing all the negativity away”

  • Spring movement with a focus on newness – this combined learning choreography with movement creation from participants
  • Movement inspired by photos of nature which was developed in to partner work where pairs of participants worked together to create a movement sequence inspired by nature
  • Flocking like a murmuration of birds – this gave individual participants the chance to lead the group in movement for the first time in a safe and less pressured way. It none the less requires bravery.  As one participant said:

“When you’ve been through something like cancer, you’re happier to be vulnerable.  Been through worse”

  •  Journeys and the joys and challenges found on them. This started with a seated mobilisation exercise where we explored where the hands and arms want to journey to in the space and was developed in to movement piece reacting to physical or emotional encounters on a journey

 “I’m dancing!  I didn’t know I could  be creative!”

Alongside the movement work, participants enjoyed the opportunity to stay for refreshments with an invitation to socialise with those having similar life experiences.   We believed that the social aspect would be as important as the movement work and it was lovely to see participants open up, share uplifting feedback and also challenges faced with cancer in a safe and respectful space

“This is the first group I’ve come to where I don’t feel alone.  It’s a confirmation that makes you feel comfortable”

The Feedback Line:

“Dancing class makes me relax and calm and it’s a good way to meet other patients with shared experience.  Very good.  Highly recommended. Many thanks” 

“The outside world floats away”

“Session was a joy, so great to move, to feel carefree”

“I look forward to dance and movement every week.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to stretch and meet other cancer patients.  Debbie is super kind”

“I like the freedom of movement.  It’s guided by but we can do our own thing”

“There’s no judgement”

“The self hug was like saying ‘well done, I’m proud of you’”

“I felt a tension in my chest before that I don’t have after”