E-Course DANCEFULNESS -ES

 Common Cultural Heritage Project

Aktywni XXI Foundation

Poland

• Impact local level

• Impact national level

• Impact EU level

• Transferability

• Quality assurance

• Innovative practice

The project titled Common Cultural Heritage (2018-2020) was written and coordinated by Aktywni XXI Foundation. It had two partners – from Spain and Italy. The project focused on three cultural fields: history, visual arts and music because after discussion the partners in the project decided that these fields would be most interesting for their senior students. Foundation Aktywni XXI was responsible for the music. Music and dance is a great way of communication for people from different countries. The seniors themselves chose classical music and folk and national dances as the main points of discussion. 

For the practical workshops dances in the circle were chosen, since most of the senior students were female. Pair dancing would be exclusive because female and male students were not equally represented. In the circle, everyone is included no matter what sex or age they are. It also appeared that dance is a common and perfect way of communication between seniors from different countries who speak different languages. Dances in the circle are slow – suitable for seniors. They also give a chance to stop and think and cherish the moment. They are obviously also physical exercises. Dances in the circle are also a great opportunity to practice leadership. Each participant can take over the control of the group and lead the dance. They can lead the dance taught in the workshops or their own, which improves their creativity. 

Seniors

In this project, the senior students took part in both local and international workshops. The first meeting of the seniors was organised in Poland in 2019 and focused on dance. The three groups of seniors presented theoretically the national and folk dances of their countries. In the practical part of the workshops, the seniors could learn dances in the circle, inspired by the music of the three countries. The workshops were led by a dance teacher who also encouraged the seniors to lead their own dances in the circle. 

They also gave shows of their national dances to the participants of the workshops.

The seniors liked the dancing workshops so much that they decided to continue the dances in the circle on regular basis. They organized the place and the teacher themselves. Now they meet once a week and practise dancing.  It appears that interest and pleasure motivated the seniors to act and lead their way to regular dance classes.

Music has always got a positive effect on our mood. Inclusive dance such as dance in the circle appears to be very effective in this respect. What is more the level of endorphins in the seniors’ bodies rises, as is the effect of every sport and movement. Dance in the circle is not demanding for elderly people. It gives them satisfaction. Moreover, it is a perfect way to socialize and go out. 

The biggest advantages of circle dancing are that the participants can also learn leadership and that it is an inclusive kind of exercise – everyone can do it whether the participants are young or old, male or female. We are certain that this kind of workshop would be suitable for most age groups.

Ana L. Borges da Costa & Diane L. Cox (2016) The experience of meaning in circle dance, Journal of Occupational Science, 23:2, 196-207, DOI: 10.1080/14427591.2016.1162191

• www.aktywni21.org.pl

• Traditional dances by Maja Huminiłowicz on Prezi Next