Our Dance with the Museum programme invites older adults to take part in movement inspired by objects, artefacts and artworks from the University of Cambridge Museums.
What is Dance with the Museum?
Led by dance for health artist Filipa Pereira-Stubbs, Dance with the Museum works primarily with older adults and people living with long-term health conditions. It aims to support participants to feel better, get stronger and build new relationships.
Wake up your mind, body and imagination through music and movement inspired by our collections.
Since 2017, we have worked with people from sheltered housing services in Cambridge through free monthly movement sessions, working closely with Cambridge City Council’s Independent Living Service.
Each session starts with a warm up, then we’ll explore an object from the collections, whether that be an artwork, fossil, archaeological artefact, scientific instrument or something else. We use the story of this object to inspire our movement. The sessions end with an opportunity to come back together with refreshments and take another look at the object.
The dance is both chair-based and standing, and we invite participants to work at the level that suits them best. Companions are welcome.
The original Dance with the Museum programme has developed into two new programmes, which are open to the public to join: Museum Boost and Museum Encounters: Parkinson's Dance Course.
Museum Boost
Museum Boost was developed in partnership with Cambridge City Council’s Independent Living Service.
If you feel like you’re slowing down, this is the programme for you. These free monthly dance sessions are aimed at those looking to bounce back. They take place on Friday afternoons at the Mill Road Community Centre.
Museum Encounters: Parkinson’s Dance Course
Developed in consultation with Parkinson’s UK Cambridge branch, we run a free six-week dance course specifically for people affected by Parkinson’s.
Activities take place on selected Friday mornings at Cambridge Junction.
Hear from Museum Encounters participants in our film.
How do I book a place?
Museum Boost and Museum Encounters sessions are free, but booking is essential.
Museum Encounters runs seasonally with three courses a year.
Upcoming events can be found on our What’s On page by selecting the ‘What’ filter and selecting ‘Disabled access events’.
To find out if this is something for you and book onto the programme, please contact us by email and specify which programme you would like to join: info@museums.cam.ac.uk We will then ask you to complete an online booking form.
Resources
For more information on all our resources please contact Ruth Clarke, Inclusion Associate: Learning, at the University of Cambridge Museums: rc699@cam.ac.uk
Relax, Look, Imagine
A video series and resources exploring nature themed art works from the Fitzwilliam collection, made in collaboration with Dance with the Museum participants.
You might also be interested in…
Portals to the World
Our programme of twice-monthly sessions for people with dementia and their companions, in partnership with Dementia Compass.
Museum Walks
Download a themed Museum Walk to follow during your visit. Created with our partners at Dementia Compass for people with dementia or a cognitive impairment and their care givers.
Activity Sheets
Be inspired by our collections from a distance through these activity sheets, designed for the bedside and developed with partners at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Arthur Rank Hospice and care homes.
