Dance project brings older and younger people together in friendship and fun

A UNIQUE project, which brought older and younger people together in dance, creativity, friendship and fun, has been described as a tremendous success.

Hosted by Art Care, the intergenerational dance project, titled ‘Here and Now Older People’s Health and Wellbeing Arts Festival’, saw participants from Strule/Erne Day Care Centre, Omagh and Omagh Integrated Primary School use Zoom to film a poignant and beautiful piece of dance they created over a number of sessions.

Featuring the theme of ‘Living Well, A Tale To Tell’, the dance helped the children to develop their choreography, while the older people taking part were encouraged to share their ideas, thoughts and visions.

Working weekly with each group since September, Carmel Garvey, director and choreographer of the dance project, said that everyone involved enjoyed a wonderful and enriching experience – especially as it is the first time both generations have come together in the last 11 years of the festival.

“I cannot tell you the excitement when the children and the older people came together to meet each other for the first time via Zoom,” she said. “That moment brought the whole project to life for each one of the dancers.

“Both groups shared their dance with each other, and after that, we began to bring both creations together as one piece.”

Both dances were filmed recently by a professional film maker, and will soon be blended together to produce one dance piece.

“The experience from the very first rehearsal right through to the end of the project has been a wonderful experience for both the children and the older people,” Carmel added. “There were many benefits for both the older people and the children especially reducing the sense of isolation experienced by many older people during the pandemic.

“The groups are looking forward to meeting ‘face to face’ when the right time presents its self.

“That will be a very emotional moment!”

Many thanks have been expressed to Laura Kelly, manager of Strule Erne Day Centre; Edwina O’Brien, and Monica Baxter, health care support workers, who supported the dancers throughout the project; Gavin Gallagher, principal of Omagh Integrated Primary School; Anne McGarvey class teacher; and Carmel Garvey, director and choreographer of the project.

The ‘Here and Now Festival’ programme, which involves older people across all Health and Social Care Trusts in the North, has been hosted by Arts Care, and funded by the Public Health Agency.