English National Ballet are taking part in Dementia Action Week this May to showcase our Dance for Dementia programme. We’re raising awareness of how the programme can support those living with Dementia and teach you one or two things you didn’t know about dance and its benefits!
Supporting people living with Dementia through the joy of dance, music and socialisation, Dance for Dementia is one of English National Ballet’s industry leading creative health initiatives.
The programme provides people living with Dementia the opportunity to access the benefits of attending regular movement classes. Participants can expect to enjoy live music, dancing inspired by ballet and contemporary dance techniques, social time with other participants, as well as access to our performances and behind the scenes insights.
From the moment you arrive, Dance for Dementia is a welcoming space, designed to engage the body and the mind. Whilst the core of this programme is rooted in dance, that’s not the only thing participants get to experience.
Sensory play is also an important aspect of the programme. Within classes, props are used to enhance a sensory experience and support movement and creative expression.
Parts of the class also offer the opportunity to take part in singing, allowing participants to express themselves in a different way and providing another form of sensory experience by using voice and sound.
A full English National Ballet experience wouldn’t be complete without the post class refreshments! A chance to relax and enjoy some social time, this part of the session is key to fostering connection and community.
At English National Ballet we believe our work beyond the stage is as important as our performances, and as part of this philosophy we want to encourage our participants to feel connected to the works being performed by the Company.
Dance for Dementia classes take inspiration from the Company’s repertoire, creatively exploring the themes, music, and characters that bring our productions to life.
As the Company prepares for our upcoming tour of The Sleeping Beauty this autumn, you’ll find our Dance for Dementia participants getting the chance to watch performance footage and see production images, as well as learning the mime in the show and embodying characters from the ballet.
Just like our daily Company ballet class, all our Dance for Dementia classes have an expert musician playing live, delivering a high-quality artistic experience.
Alongside this, we also offer opportunities for participants to attend performances. A Dance for Dementia group recently joined us at the London Coliseum to see our brand-new Nutcracker. Participants and their carers got to experience the magic of a live performance, seeing the production that they’d been working on in class, as well as taking advantage of our sensory adapted relaxed performance.
At the Mulryan Centre for Dance in Canning Town you can expect to find our Dance for Dementia classes taking part on a weekly basis.
I find the classes warm and welcoming, inclusive in every way and jolly! We are so well supported as soon as we step through the door, and the team are encouraging, joyful and accepting.Regular Dance for Dementia class participant Vic Mundy
Workshops have also been held at community hubs in Stratford, Canning Town and East Ham in collaboration with Newham New Deal Partnership, as well as at the Vietnamese Community Group, Chinese Welfare Group and Feldy Community Centre in collaboration with Tower Hamlets Alzheimer’s Society.
But that’s not all! Dance for Dementia has expanded across London through a partnership with Arts for Dementia. Our artists deliver classes in Elephant and Castle, Swiss Cottage as well as online for those unable to attend in person.
During Dementia Action Week, we will further expand the programme throughout Lewisham and Tower Hamlets, and even hold workshops as far afield as Taiwan, where the Company are currently on international tour.
I HAD to come, the thought of not dancing was horrible,… I’ve come to really love dance.A Dance for Dementia participant
Our home in east London is accredited by the Mayor of London and the Alzheimer’s Society as a Dementia Friendly Venue.
This means that anyone living with Dementia can access our building. It is a place designed to be welcoming, supportive, comfortable and inclusive for individuals living with Dementia and their carers.
English National Ballet’s Dance for Dementia programme is a brilliant example of how culture has the power to transform lives and communities.Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries
Our team proudly wear their Forget Me Not badges from the Alzheimer’s Society, and our Engagement and Building Operations teams are trained as Dementia Friends.
Dance for Dementia is one of our key creative health initiatives, sharing the physical mental wellbeing benefits of dancing, including improved posture, balance, coordination, strength and flexibility.
ENB has partnered with Vital Arts, part of Barts Health NHS Trust, at Newham Hospital, to provide taster workshops to help staff raise awareness of the programme and improve wellbeing, as well as delivering two workshops for older patients on site.
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Dance for Dementia not only welcomes those living with Dementia to take part but also carers, family and loved ones. The classes offer welcoming, creative experiences for all and help those involved to feel connected.
During Dementia Action Week 2025, English National Ballet will hold Dance for Dementia workshops at Glass Mill Leisure Centre in Lewisham on Monday 19 May, and at Aberfeldy Community Centre in Newham on Wednesday 21 May, with the aim of reaching 50 new participants and raising awareness of the programme.
Our Dance for Dementia workshops are a fantastic example of us working together with partners to make a greater impact and to support as many people as possible.Fleur Derbyshire-Fox, Engagement Director
Are you feeling inspired to get involved in Dance for Dementia and experience the joy of this programme?
Our volunteers play an integral role in the team, ensuring our classes can run smoothly and that participants have the best experience possible.
It makes my heart smile.Dance for Dementia Volunteer
Find out more about volunteering on our dance health programmes here.