Kern Dance Alliance - MemoryMOVES®: DANCE + THERAPY 2023

Grab your tissues - this one MOVED us to tears! 🤧
🧐 Hypothesis: Movement assists with memory recall.
🧠 Conclusion: Movement DOES assist with memory recall!
After a four-year hiatus, MemoryMOVES®: DANCE + THERAPY triumphantly returned to Kern County and we were proud to capture the most extraordinary moments on camera!! 🎥
Led by Dance/Movement Therapist, Elena Rezai, MemoryMOVES offered daily therapy sessions aimed at improving cognitive recall and physical ability for people experiencing Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory loss at the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County. 💃🏽🕺🏼
Featuring a Nutcracker theme where 29 clients participated in classes crafted to Tchaikovsky’s famous score, clients practiced dances that were performed at the final culminating Nutcracker performance on the last day of the program. 💙
To add to the enjoyment, the final performance also featured dancers from the Bakersfield City Ballet, who performed two dances, while the clients, with the help of the therapist and staff, performed dances using scarves and silk flowers as props. It was a very memorable and special conclusion to the week - thank you BCB! 🩰🎄
MemoryMOVES reported the following data:
➜ 93% of clients displayed consistently brighter affect during each group attended
➜ 100% of clients displayed consistently reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety
➜ 90% displayed consistently increased range of motion and functional mobility
➜ 97% displayed increased social interaction
➜ I00% displayed one or more indicators of increased cognitive functioning and recall
➜ 97% displayed increased mind/body connection
For the full MemoryMOVES impact report visit 👉 www.kerndance.org/kda-newsletter-no-10-2/
KDA is grateful for our MemoryMOVES partner, ADAKC, and to our program sponsors, the Arts Council of Kern County and the Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust. 🙏
📽️: Video courtesy of KDA Filmmaker, Adam David Welch.
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