Free-Form Dance as an Alternative Interaction for Adult Grandchildren and Their Grandparents

Abstract

Shared leisure activities fulfill a central role in strengthening the relationship with adult grandchildren and provide a vehicle for transmission of values. Thus, it is likely that joint activity alongside support and focused guidance in communication between adult grandchildren and grandparents will help strengthen their relationship. Based on theory and research on dance/movement therapy in old age, and on development processes in the family, the aim of the present study is to discover the significance of free-form dance jointly engaged in by adult grandchildren with their grandparents, for each of the generations. Using action research, 16 dance-movement therapists and their grandmothers participated in three dance meetings in their grandmothers' homes. Based on filmed videos of the sessions, personal diaries, and semi-structured interviews, it was found that among the granddaughters, the meeting aroused concerns about their lack of skill to create a meaningful meeting and to protect their grandmothers throughout the meeting. It was also found that regular free-form dance meetings in which the granddaughter mirrored her grandmother's movements while suggesting expansions to the movements, encouraging eye contact, touch, and playfulness, and empowering her ability, while also granting legitimacy to rest, created a change in the grandmother's state of mind: positive memories and feelings appeared, as did uplifted spirits. For the granddaughters, the meeting altered their perspective on old age and provided a space for processes of parting. The implications of identifying assistive components of joint dancing for creating an intervention model for adult grandchildren's support of the elderly in the community are extensively discussed.

Investigating the emotional content of older adults engaging in a fall prevention exercise program integrated with dance movement therapy: a preliminary study

“…The subtheme of “a surprise of self-discovery” was uniquely observed in the PTE + DMT group. This finding aligns with a previous study that explored dance interventions based on DMT principles among grandmothers aged 80 to 95 and their granddaughters ( Shuper Engelhard, 2020 ). The findings of that study demonstrated that engaging in dance activities involving movement mirroring, spontaneous expression, and creativity elicited a sense of surprise among the grandmothers as they discovered newfound abilities in their bodies, such as strength and power, despite experiencing movement difficulties.…”

“…The emotional content expressed during group-based physical therapy exercises aimed at preventing falls was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) ( Smith, 1996 , 2004 ) of the instructors’ direct observations and process diary. This method has been used in previous research by Shuper Engelhard (2020) , to examine the stated and implicit significance of structured, free-form dance meetings between grandmothers and their adult granddaughters. The IPA method was selected due to its capacity to offer both descriptive and interpretive analysis, aiming to capture the subjective experiences of the participants ( Quinn and Clare, 2008 ).…”

“…These techniques have been found to contribute to an increase in empathy ( Koch et al, 2019 ; Christopher and Tamplin, 2022 ), as well as an increase in feelings of belonging and group cohesion ( Chyle et al, 2020 ). Additionally, the use of shared spontaneous movement can elicit creativity and playfulness, which further contributes to building close relationships ( Shuper Engelhard, 2020 ) and sense of vitality ( Koch et al, 2019 ; Christopher and Tamplin, 2022 ). Previous studies have shown that DMT can have a positive impact on physiological, functional, and psychological indices among older adults with conditions such as dementia ( Ho et al, 2020 ; Wu et al, 2022 ), Parkinson’s ( Fisher et al, 2020 ; Wu et al, 2022 ), and psychiatric disorders ( Jiménez et al, 2019 ).…”

Dance Movement Therapy with Children: Practical Aspects of Remote Group Work

“…Case studies show that in order to continue sustaining DMT during COVID-19, the therapist must observe all the clients’ actions as a dynamic expression of the mind, including their response to computer disengagement, disappearance from the screen, exposure or hiding of certain body parts, etc. [ 27 ]. The choice of body parts revealed on the screen, for example, signifies the ability to organize oneself within a new reality, to take into account the other, and convey experiences related to body image and the perception of body boundaries.…”

“…During remote psychotherapy sessions clients are often preoccupied with questions of whether their therapist can see, hear, feel, guard, and protect them—perhaps even more powerfully than in the physical therapy room, which often serves as a guarded space in and of itself [ 27 ].The dance movement therapist may suggest that the client move his or her body within the confines of the screen and explore possibilities in front of the camera and the room, and each client may respond to the suggestion in his or her own way. An offer to get closer or farther away from the screen will bring with it countless new stories and new ways of communication.…”