“A space to be myself”- Supporting the personhood of people with dementia through dance

The first instalment in our Aster Conversation Series…
In Conversation with Heather Hill

Engaging with people with dementia, when sense of self is under threat and verbal communication is increasingly limited, calls for meeting and working with the whole person. It is through attention to the language of body (including elements of movement, touch, rhythm, space, and personal aesthetics) that connections can be made with the whole person; a wholeness that includes mind, body, spirit, emotions and uniqueness of personality.

In this inaugural Aster Conversation, Heather Hill shares stories and skills from her decades of experience connecting with people with dementia through dance. She’ll share ways that she uses the framework of Laban Movement Analysis, along with relational perspectives on personhood, to develop presence in herself and her clients. Through discussion and guided experiential activities, Heather will demonstrate at a very practical level how these approaches serve to  scaffold and support what she considers the core work in dementia - the maintenance and promotion of personhood.

Heather Hill (BA, M.Ed, PhD, Grad.Dip. Movement & Dance, Grad. Dip Dance Therapy) worked as a dance movement therapist for over 30 years, specialising in the field of dementia, and was first President of the DTAA. She was involved in developing dance therapy courses at RMIT and Ikon Institute, and lectured at various tertiary institutions. Following a PhD on person-centred dementia practice, she facilitated training for care staff, incorporating embodied learning. In 2019, she ran a year-long program in Singapore, training dementia staff to do creative dance with their clients. She has published articles, book chapters, and two books for care staff, “Invitation to the Dance” and for Japan, “Dance Communication – The Power to Connect with People with Dementia”.

Event Recording
Please note, this event was recorded and is available until 30th June 2022 for a fee of $5.