Eight inspiring women living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) delivered a 10-minute dance performance at the Healing Arts Scotland Glasgow Day on Friday.
Their performance highlights the role of the arts in supporting a Realistic Medicine approach to healthcare, one focused on living well.
The dance was created as part of a collaboration between Scottish Ballet (SB) and Dr. Emily Davis, Durham University Moving Bodies Lab researcher, using dance as an innovative way to share findings from Dr. Davis’ Dance for MS PhD.
Among the dancers was 63-year-old Denise Noone from Glasgow’s Southside. Denise and her fellow dancers are part of Scottish Ballet’s SB Elevate® programme, designed to support people living with MS to improve balance, strength, confidence and wellbeing.
Health professionals from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) have worked closely with the SB Health team for many years, actively promoting the benefits of movement and creativity for people living with MS.
Denise said that attending the weekly Elevate class has transformed both her physical health and her outlook on life. She had been referred to the class following a physiotherapy appointment and what began as a way to support her movement became something much more.
“The hardest part of my MS diagnosis was at the beginning when I had written myself off, thinking that I wouldn’t have much of a quality of life. In addition to the benefits to my body, this class completely changed my outlook mentally. I have something that I really look forward to, and the class has given me a confidence to now perform,” said Denise.
“I am keen to keep doing things and to keep moving. This class is my support foundation. It keeps me moving, well-informed, and when I am engaged in the class, it takes my mind away from any negativity.”
The Scottish Ballet Elevate dancers formed part of Healing Arts Scotland Glasgow Day, one of a number of initiatives delivered through partnerships with NHSGGC and Glasgow Life using creativity to enhance health and care.
A Realistic Medicine approach is taken across NHSGGC and arts and health programmes have increasingly been embedded within everyday services, supporting patients, staff and communities in ways that complement clinical care and improve experiences of healthcare.
Dr Jude Marshall, NHSGGC Realistic Medicine Lead, said:
“Realistic Medicine is about delivering care that is personalised, compassionate and focused on what matters most to people. Arts and creative approaches can play an important role in supporting wellbeing, improving experiences of care and enabling more meaningful conversations between patients and professionals.
“Events like Healing Arts Scotland help to highlight the value of looking beyond traditional clinical interventions and embracing approaches that support the whole person.”
Christopher Hampson, Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Scottish Ballet, said:
Scottish Ballet is committed to enriching and improving lives through dance, offering safe and supportive programmes that truly align with Scotland’s Realistic Medicine approach to healthcare. Seeing the SB Elevate® participants take to the stage and share their journey is incredibly powerful. It shows how dance can support both physical health and emotional wellbeing and help people to rediscover what they can achieve.”
For more information about Realistic Medicine visit: https://realisticmedicine.scot/
To find out more about the SB Health initiative visit: www.scottishballet.co.uk
