Take Part
We regularly lead sessions for older people, alongside a variety of sessions in partnership with other organisations. Scroll on to find out more.
Sessions for older people
What To Expect
We lead sessions for older people with health and mobility problems throughout the week. You can find out where and when our sessions take place by looking at our timetable below.
Our sessions are welcoming, friendly and fun. You can expect our group leaders and assistants to lead you through a gentle warm-up, some dances, and then a cool down during the first hour of every session. We dance to irresistible music from many eras, genres and cultures, and all our dances are designed to be done seated or standing to suit how you’re feeling that day.
- You don’t need a partner
- You don’t need a good memory – our group leaders often demonstrate movements before each dance but don’t panic, you don’t need to remember these! It’s just so your body has an idea and a practice of what’s coming up.
- You take it at your own level – if you start standing but want to sit down part way through a dance, that’s absolutely fine!
- Sometimes we dance with props, like pom poms, scarves, or shaker eggs. These get our brains going in different ways, allow our bodies to move in ways they wouldn’t do without them, and best of all, bring some colour and light-heartedness into the space!
We have water on hand if you don’t have a bottle with you. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring layers in case you get warm as we move, and cold as we cool down.
The final 30 minutes of each session is refreshments – tea, coffee and biscuits. It gives you time to chat with the people you’ve been dancing and laughing with for the past hour.
Groups cost £6 per session, but if ever that is a struggle, please speak to us so we can support you appropriately.
Timetable
Timetable
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2pm - 3:30pm Friends Meeting House, Queen Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5PP | 2pm-3.30pm Chain Lane Community Hub, Chain Lane Knaresborough HG5 0AS 2pm-3.30pm Coronation Hall, Old Station Yard, Milby Lane, Boroughbridge, YO51 9BL | 2.30pm-4pm* Bilton Community Centre, Bilton Lane, Bilton HG1 3DU *3pm-4.30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month | 1pm-2.30pm Large Hall at St Andrews Church, High Street, Starbeck HG2 7JE 2pm-3.30pm Darley Methodist Church, Main Street, Darley, HG3 2QQ | 2pm – 3.30pm Chain Lane Community Hub, Chain Lane, Knaresborough, HG5 OAS |
| 11am - 12:30pm Coronation Hall, Old Station Yard, Milby Lane, Boroughbridge, Y051 9BL | 11am-12.30pm Harrogate Road Methodist Church, Harewood Road, Ripon, HG4 1TG | 11am-12.30pm Memorial Hall, Hollins Lane, Hampsthwaite, HG3 2EJ 11am-12.30pm Friends Meeting House, Queen Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5PP | 11am – 12.30pm Bilton Grange United Reformed Church, Woodfield Road, Bilton, Harrogate, HG1 4LN. |
|
Try before you join!
Workshops & Taster Sessions
We often lead sessions for local community groups and organisations. These have included:
- Rainbow Care Group – these sessions are dementia-specific
- Supporting Older People
- Mind in Harrogate
- Orb Community Arts
- Various WI groups
- Ripon Friendship Group
- Hill View Manor, Knaresborough
If you would like a taster session for your group, please get in touch.
Relaxing & Welcoming
Care-Free Space Group
We currently run a monthly group for family carers of people with dementia. These sessions take place on a Tuesday afternoon in Knaresborough. They are led by a Dance Movement Psychotherapist, and are there to . . . .
- Give time and space for carers to acknowledge and reflect on the impacts of caring emotionally and physically.
- Help express often complex and confusing feelings like frustration, anxiety, fear, tension, and stress.
- Help find support in the company of other carers who are going through similar experiences.
- Help find ways to cope and recharge batteries.
Sessions are free of charge.
If you would like further information, please do get in touch. If this group is something you might be interested in but for any reason cannot join us, please contact us as we’d love to understand how we could make the group accessible for all.
With thanks to the National Lottery for supporting this group.
