We love to spread the love and what better day to showcase this than on Valentine’s Day?
We have been running our Southmead Hospital Charity-funded Dance for Parkinson’s group at the hospital for more than three years now and so were thrilled when our participants were given the chance to perform for the public in the hospital atrium on the day dedicated to love.
Our Dancers
All wearing something red and waving huge decorated cardboard hearts, our dancers performed to unsuspecting passers by at Southmead.
A carefully curated soundtrack included crowdpleasers such as “You Can’t Hurry Love”, “Blame It on the Boogie” and “Dance Tonight”.
And seasoned dancer Paul lead a reprise of “All You Need is Love” – first performed at last year’s Harbourside Festival. Audience participation was enthusiastic, especially with our singalongs to “Catch a Falling Star” and “All My Loving”.
Feedback
Donna Baber, Programme Manager for Fresh Arts at Southmead Hospital (North Bristol NHS Trust) which enables our work with funds from Southmead Hospital Charity was impressed. “The dances expressed both love, sharing and human warmth, the group warmth expanding from their circle to the audience,” she observed. How lovely was that?
One visitor commented how nice it was to see the atrium being used for a performance such as ours.
Another recognised the importance of opportunities like this for people with Parkinson’s, to help keep those living with PD active and to focus on what they can do, rather than activities that have become more difficult with the progression of the condition.
“I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the performance,” commented an audience member. “It was such a delight to see not only the dancers but also the way in which passers by, the unexpected audience members, clearly had some joy added to their day!”
Dance for Parkinson’s
For us, it was wonderful to be able to share what we normally do every Friday afternoon in a private seminar room with the public at Southmead Hospital. It is always so inspiring to perform in the atrium and to enjoy the space. It was even better to see passers by stopping, smiling and joining in.
“Well done to you all for making this possible and for all that you do for those with PD and their partners and carers,” said one of our dancers.
“It was really nice for a number of my colleagues, including an officer for Arts Council England, for patients, visitors and other staff passing through the atrium to see the dancers perform,” said Donna Baber. “It was good for people to see what goes in in the arts programme and the value that the North Bristol NHS Trust places on wellbeing and the arts.”
All in all, it was hugs, smiles and a whole lot of love all round. We can’t wait to do it again.
Sustain the spectacular job !! Lovin’ it!