After six months of weekly sessions, our Southborough Moving Well group (formerly Groovin’ Well) has come to a close. We asked our creative facilitators, MJ Stevens and Luci Napleton, to share their reflections on the journey.
“It was a lovely last session in Southborough and very moving for us and all,” Luci reflects. “We do hope that it will be able to continue in the near future. Thanks to the Creative Facilitator training programme that Moving Memory is doing in partnership with West Kent Mind, some of the members may even get their own dance group off the ground. It’s fantastic that they’ve grown in confidence and are now able to do that!”
MJ adds: “The Southborough Groovin’ Well Creative Minds group worked together for 6 months – 24 sessions, every Monday morning. It was a mixed group of women over 50, some of whom hadn’t danced or attended an exercise class for years. We stretched, warmed up, and introduced participants to the Moving Memory method, including improvisatory techniques and games. Then the participants used their own stories and life experiences to shape them into choreography.
“Over the six months, the group created three entirely original pieces of dance. Many performed with the Moving Memory core company at the Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival in Golden Slumbers, and all took part in a two-hour professional workshop with hip hop dancer and storyteller Bobak Champion, thanks to Applause Rural Touring and the Rural Touring Dance Initiative. The final piece, inspired by the poetry of participant Elizabeth, was performed in front of the Applause Rural Touring team and Southborough Civic Centre staff.”
This programme, supported by West Kent Mind through the Creative Minds initiative, has not only celebrated movement and creativity but has also helped participants develop confidence, form friendships and take ownership of their own artistic journeys.
Thanks to Beckenham Theatre Trust and The Lawson Trust for also supporting these workshops.
To find out what’s on with Moving Memory, click here.