Dr Heather Hill, 2009

This book provides guidance for anyone who would like to help people with dementia move expressively to music. It gives suggestions for approaches, props and music and provides vivid descriptions of the difference that dance can make to people's wellbeing.

Includes a 6-track CD of music used by the author in her dance therapy sessions with people with dementia.

Review

With the increased interest in dance in the population at large and increased understanding of the value of this type of embodied and meaningful activity for people with dementia, this book is an excellent resource. Hill’s loves for dancing with people with dementia comes pouring through and is sure to inspire staff, dance therapy students and therapists alike.

One of the most beautiful concepts in this lovely guide is the idea of mutuality between people with dementia and their care providers, acknowledging that leader and group members are “essentially co-dancers.” Yet because of participants’ disabilities the leader has to be sensitive in “creating opportunities for success rather than failure.”

Donna Newman-Bluestein, Dance Therapy Association of Australia