Feeling unwell? Down in the dumps? Doctor darts has an unusual alternative therapy - we prescribe singing or dancing, or even both!
Participants from our long-running projects, Movers and Shakers and The Quirky Choir, know only too well how these activities can contribute to their well-being:
"I suffer from asthma and singing is good and helpful with my breathing."
"Dancing makes me feel good. It lifts my spirits and I lose myself in dance."
We wanted to extend these benefits to the wider community. Thanks to a grant from Communities for Health, we were able to do just that. Heart and Soul was a project promoting the health benefits of singing and dancing to body, soul and mind.
We worked with 202 participants in 20 outreach workshops in a wide variety of venues:
- An acute psychiatric ward at Loversall Hospital, with patients and staff
- Doncaster Mencap Gateway group and Thorne Road Day Service, with adults with learning disabilities
- Rossington Memorial Hall and Miners' Welfare, with a group of women wanting to form their own choir and the Maytime group of older people
- At the Point with a group of women with learning disabilities from Doncaster Women's Centre
- At Campsall Village Hall with a group of adults from the local community
- At Sheep Dip Lane Primary school in Dunscroft with grandparents, parents and children
We asked everyone how they felt before and after our sessions to make them aware of the changes that singing and dancing can make to the way we feel. Most reported feeling better, more awake and energised... "I came with a headache but now it�s gone!"
We also worked on a performance with Movers and Shakers and The Quirky Choir, involving the audience by getting them to join in and asking them to give us feedback about the health benefits of these activities.
"Dancing brings back the joy of youthful agility. Singing releases the spirit, empties the mind, lets the soul soar."
"Singing is so excellent for making you feel better and the Quirky Choir has a real community and inclusive feel. It cheers me up just to listen to such keen singers. Dancing is excellent for your health, keeps you fit ...good for cardio and socially it is brill!"
"Very uplifting, it would work as an antidepressant. Exercise made easy! And good for joints, gets rid of inhibitions."
"It would appear that it makes you less stressful, fitter, healthier all round. If the cast are an advert then it obviously works!"
Many of our outreach groups didn't want to stop!
- The Gateway Group have been successful in a funding bid to the Community Empowerment Network for us to run more creative activities around healthy lifestyles
- Rossington Ladies Choir has received a grant from the Parish Council to continue sessions and from the Choosing Health team for a teaching CD
- darts has received funding from Health Turnaround for a large project called Get Doncaster Dancing