I should perhaps begin this beginners guide by stating just how much of a beginner I am when it comes to dance, exercise and the world of movement in general.

I’ve never considered fitness fun. I always thought if the zombie apocalypse hit, maybe I’d get fit just to improve my chances of survival. But that really was my limit.

Why then am I writing about Creative Dance? Well, when the apocalypse - sorry, pandemic - hit, I sat around for a while and ate a lot of crisps. I then trained to be a narrative coach and confronted some of my bad habits - hello crisps and exercise.

I then began working with a company that facilitates creative dance sessions online, and I felt I should attend at least one session to know what it was all about.

Creative Dance is a form of improvisation. There are no right or wrongs, no routines to learn, no pressure to be anything other than yourself. I’d heard the facilitators speak about their sessions being supportive and nurturing, but I remembered attending ballet when I was 4 and remembered the scary teacher, so I wasn’t convinced.

I attended my first session - all held online because of lockdown - and was fully prepared to turn the camera off and slip away if necessary. It wasn’t.

We started with a gentle warm up to the song Summertime by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. The facilitator, Molly, offered suggestions of movement but it was left to us to move our bodies as we needed for them to be warm.

We then followed Molly’s suggestions, visualising petals falling from a tree and scooping them to us. Putting them into pockets all over our body. Not only was this fun, it was also playful. I connected to my body, touching it while moving to the music. It was like saying hello to an old friend. 

We then added words to the petals. Without any effort the words Love and Abundance appeared in my mind. Suddenly, I was scooping love and abundance into my arms, and placing it in pockets across my body. It may sound strange, but as a coach I understand the importance of visualisation. How the imagination can provide us with the things we need without us having to try too hard.

This is what I feel creative dance does for me. It offers me space to connect with my mind, and my body in a way that no other exercise does. Yoga comes close but lacks the rhythm that dance provides.

Music is so important, and the music chosen for each session is unique to the theme which changes every 6 weeks. The facilitators choose music from across the world, and then it’s all made available on Spotify playlists so you can carry it with you.

Find their amazing playlists here!

Creative Dance London started providing these sessions for participants over 60+ and has a strong community of older adults who enjoy the challenge of these creative sessions. They are starting to stretch their wings and invite adults of all ages to their sessions. They have set up a lunchtime session that runs from 1-2 pm on Wednesdays, perfect for a lunchtime move and stretch when working from home.

I know I’ll be joining them, and I hope you will too.

To find out more about what Creative Dance London are offering you can visit their website here; www.creativedancelondon.org/schedule 

Or book directly here; Shapeshifters - Wednesday 1 - 2 pm

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Written By Laura Pick