Leading Dance for Older People for Health and Wellbeing
There is an increasing need for more dance practitioners and teachers to meet the demands of the growing ‘dance for older people’ field in various contexts and settings including teaching and leading dance in:
- community settings for older people who
- are active and agile or
- have mobility challenges due to inactivity or specific health issues or
- have dementia
- care settings such as
- residential aged care facilities (people with and without dementia)
- hospices
- day respite centres
- hospitals
Gail Hewton, Director of RIPE Dance has partnered with Julie Chenery to establish Gold Moves Australia (GMA) to focus on progressing the field of dance for older people for health and wellbeing by developing and presenting professional development, mentoring and training opportunities while continuing their own community practice.
GMA offers introductory workshops through to Foundational and Comprehensive hybrid (online & in-person) courses. Click here for more information on GMA courses
FOR MORE INFO: contact Gail Hewton 0411 720 391 gail@goldmovesaustralia.com.au OR Julie Chenery 0408 779 373 julie@goldmovesaustralia.com.au
Gail and Julie bring over 85 years of combined professional experience as artists, educators and community dance practitioners. They have collaborated on many initiatives and projects over the years since first working together in 1991. Both Gail and Julie have received the Ausdance Qld Osmotherley Award for their contribution to dance education.
Gail has been immersed in working with older people for the past 8 years across a range of contexts and settings. Gail has spent many hours developing her knowledge and skills in this field via desktop research; attending national and international forums, workshops, webinars, symposiums and conference; and completing relevant online courses. In 2018 Gail was assisted by Arts Qld funding to undertake a 6 week study tour of the UK to investigate dance for older people. Gail holds a BA Dance and Diploma of Teaching Secondary.
Julie brings many years experience as an educator and community dance practitioner. She worked with a broad range of dance teachers and artists during a decade as the inaugural Executive Officer of Ausdance Qld. Julie has added community development practice and strengths-based counselling approaches to her offerings. Julie holds a Masters of Counselling, Cert IV Career Counselling, Cert IV Trainer and Assessor, Diploma of Education and Bachelor of Science.
Dance teachers and practitioners, let’s spread the joy and many benefits of dance for older people. Dancing is exercise in disguise! It’s such a joyous activity whether seated, standing with assistance or independently, there’s nothing like dancing to wonderful music to get people smiling, moving and feeling better, working their brains and connecting with others.
Ballet class has changed my life! RIPE Dance Ballet for Seniors participant
Coming to dance is a cuddle to myself. RIPE Dance, Yes You Can Dance! for mobility participant
…Gail’s dance sessions have been an unequivocal success with an unwavering following and the best individual participation rate that I have experienced in my seven years at Carramar. … this is a great way to add some meaningful improvement to our seniors’ day. Craig Barnes, Diversional Therapist, Carramar Aged Care, Tewantin
RIPE DANCE 