Research on the RIPE Dance approach – 1 March 2024
RIPE Dance Director, Gail Hewton and her Gold Moves Australia partner Julie Chenery have been working with healthy ageing and falls prevention researchers from University of Sydney’s Institute of Musculoskeletal Health since meeting at the 2021 Australian and New Zealand Falls Prevention Conference. Gail & Julie presented their approach to leading dance for older people for health and wellbeing. This approach was developed by Gail over 10 years in her RIPE Dance community dance practice. They presented anecdotal evidence of long-term engagement and participant benefits as well as an analysis of dance moves in a RIPE Dance class that echo those in evidence-based falls prevention exercises. This analysis was conducted with an experienced physiotherapist and exercise physiologist.
The analysis, long-term engagement and participant outcomes interested researchers because in general older people do not persist with standard exercise programs. This resulted in a 2023 research study into the factors that keep older participants coming to dance with the findings published in Frontiers of Public Health. Amongst the findings the effectiveness of tailoring dance content for different levels of ability was significant.
The research team is now working towards a 2024 pilot randomised controlled trial looking at the acceptability, feasibility and intervention impact of RIPE Dance classes in preparation for a larger randomised controlled trial of the dance classes as a program to reduce falls. Read more about the study in this Australian Physiotherapy Association article.
This approach is shared in Gold Moves Australia courses for leading dance for older people for health and wellbeing.
RIPE Dance wins 2 national awards – 23 October 2023
We are thrilled to announce RIPE Dance has received national recognition for its work with local seniors by taking out two Australasian Dance Education Awards for ‘Regional Dance Studio of the Year’ and the ‘Excellence in Community Impact’. Not only do these awards recognise the excellence and significance of the work of Founder & Director Gail Hewton, it is also a wonderful acknowledgement of dance for older people. Read more here.
RIPE Dance celebrates 10th Anniversary – January 2022
WOW! RIPE Dance has been offering dance classes and experiences for over 60s of various abilities, mobilities and dance experience for 10 years. We will be celebrating in a number of ways over 2022. Congratulations to Gail and all the dancers for this great achievement and milestone!
RIPE Dance wins national award – 9 December 2020
We are excited and honoured to announce RIPE Dance won the Australian Dance Award 2018 for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for Film or New Media for its film In a Different Space and a finalist in the category Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance. The winners were announced on 8 December 2020. See the official announcement by Ausdance National
CLICK HERE to view the film. Enjoy!
RIPE Dance shortlisted for national awards – 31 October 2020
We are excited and honoured to announce RIPE Dance has been shortlisted for 2 national Ausdance Dance Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance, and Outstanding Achievement in Dance for Film or New Media. The winners will be announced on 8 December. See the official announcement by Ausdance National
All classes restarting week 13 July 2020
We will be guided by the dance industry’s The Principles and Framework for Restarting Dance Activities Post COVID-19 and implementing a COVID Safe Plan to ensure appropriate protocols and procedures are followed.
Open Access now available to our film In A Different Space – May 2020
The film has to date been selected for screening at 19 national and international arts/dance/film festivals and events in Australia, UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Spain and Brazil.
“In A Different Space is one of the most inspirational dance films I’ve seen in a long time. It combines beauty, humour, serenity and cheekiness in equal measure. Anyone who feels themselves growing older should watch this film.” Anna Leatherdale, Director of Learning, People Dancing (UK)
CLICK HERE to view the film. Enjoy!
In A Different Space – creation of dance film in 2018
Largely funded by RIPE Dance with funding assistance from the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF – Noosa Council & Arts Qld) and crowd funding via the Australia Cultural Fund, In a Different Space is an arts project by community dance artist and RIPE Dance Director, Gail Hewton which will see the creation of a unique short dance film.
Challenging notions of ageism, fear of ageing and ageing body image, In A Different Space celebrates and showcases elders aged 60 to 101 years dancing their personal stories in places of significance to them. The film presents six distinct pieces featuring novice, experienced and former professional dancers with a range of physical abilities and conditions.
Production, Concept & Direction Gail Hewton
Choreography Gail Hewton – in collaboration with the dancers
Direction of Photography & Editing Suzon Fuks
Music & Sound Guy Webster
Drone Video Shaylin Smith
Featured Dancers:
Aphrodite Meredyth Howard (87 yrs)
Miss Behave Robin Mitchell, Jill Muir (76 yrs), Jo Westbury (73 yrs)
Smocker Val Taylor (88 yrs)
Loss & Found Helen Male (79 yrs)
The Living Swan Jacqueline (Jonny) B’Nay (92 yrs)
Beat Boy Jack Floyd (101 yrs)
Noosa’s Biggest Seated Dance Class! 2017 – another success
Another great turn out for this year’s Seniors Week event with over 100 in attendance enjoying themselves dancing in their chairs as well as marvelling at the wonderful on stage performances by RIPE Dance participants.
Here’s a couple of links with videos and photos to check out what it was all about.
Twitter from ABC reporter Frances Adcock
More photos to come soon.
(posted 7 Sept 2017)
Get ready for Noosa’s Biggest Seated Dance class! – Wednesday 17 August 2016
As the saying goes, move it or lose it! So RIPE Dance with support of Noosa Council and The J is presenting this special FREE event during Seniors Week to encourage our senior citizens to stay physically active for good health and wellbeing.
We extend an open invitation to the seniors of Noosa to come along, have some fun and experience the joy and benefits of a seated dance class. Yes, You Can Dance! in a chair, so if you’re not moving as well as you used to due to ageing, have balance issues, reduced joint mobility, muscle strength and flexibility or conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, MS, mild stroke, come and join us to see just what is possible.
RIPE Dance director, Gail Hewton, will lead you through a 50-60 minute dance session that will include a warm up, several simple dance sequences choreographed to a variety of wonderful and familiar songs, finishing with a relaxing cool down – all seated in the safety of your chair. No previous dance experience required.
The moves are easy to follow, whilst still aiming to challenge the brain by coordinating different body parts in time to music. There’ll be toe tapping and stomping, clapping and arm swinging, shimmying and shaking, as well as slow, smooth and elegant movements. Expect to explore a range of movement qualities and patterns to a variety of musical rhythms and melodies such as waltz, jazz, latin, broadway and musical theatre, and most of all expect to be surprised and have fun.
Research is showing that dance for older people provides a range of physical, cognitive, emotional and social benefits. RIPE Dance participants leave class feeling energised and uplifted, ‘my muscles are less stiff’, ‘without the headache I came with’ and over time see improvements in their balance, posture, coordination, flexibility and mood as well as making new friends .
There will also be additional demonstrations from some RIPE Dance participants performing dance items. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
- When: Wednesday 17 August – take your seat from 10am for a 10.30am class start
- Where: The J, 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads
- Cost: FREE
- Duration: approximately 90 mins – including 60 min seated dance class
TO REGISTER for a seat or for more information: contact Gail on 0411 720 391 or ripedance@gmail.com
(posted 12 July 2016)
Sunny coast hears inspiring stories about the power of dance at Pecha Kucha – Tuesday 21 June 2016
Gail Hewton, Director, RIPE Dance, was one of nine local creatives to present at the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance’s 17th Pecha Kucha Night. With the required presentation theme of Extraordinaire and within the set Pecha Kucha format of 20 slides 20 seconds per slide, Gail spoke about the transformative power of dance relating 3 powerful real life stories, accompanied by images, of how people’s lives have been transformed by participation in dance classes or projects she has lead over her 38 year professional career in dance. See her blog for a transcript of her inspiring talk.
(posted 1 July 2016)
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