Posted on: 14 January 2025
CNWL Arts in Health has partnered with the Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) on a new community project working with individuals living with mental health conditions to explore the healing power of the arts.
Running from 1 November 2024 until 31 January 2025, the project, which is part of the RBO’s Creative Exchange Programme, brings together a group of participants from across CNWL’s Community Mental Health Hubs to explore the impact of ballet and movement on their mental health.
Supported by CNWL NHS Health Charity and volunteers, participants in the project will spend 12 weeks attending dance workshops in a West End studio led by former Royal Ballet dancers, David Pickering and Tara Bhavnani, as well as Royal Ballet and Opera Lead Dance Artist, Liz Foster.
Co-facilitated with CNWL’s Dance Movement Psychotherapists, Carol Jaffier and Jenni de Knoop, and Dramatherapist, Laura Knight, each session represents a safe, creative space for participants to express themselves through dance.
At the end of the project, participants will present Alice Magic, a special performance inspired by The Royal Ballet’s production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, to family and friends in the Royal Opera House’s Paul Hamlyn Hall.
Alongside building confidence and self-expression for the participants, this project explores the broader themes around the impact of the arts on mental health.
Dance, and the arts more broadly, offer many benefits for mental health recovery. Engaging in dance supports physical wellbeing by promoting movement, fitness, and coordination, but its impact goes far beyond that. It nurtures psychological and cognitive wellbeing by providing an outlet for self-expression and reducing stress. Participating in group dance also fosters a sense of connection and belonging, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
This project offers a unique exchange of knowledge and skills, with the dance participants and CNWL teams learning more about the world of ballet, and RBO dancers and staff receiving mental health first aid training to identify, understand and help someone experiencing a mental health issue.
Laura Knight, Dramatherapist and Lead for Arts in Health at the Central London Arts Psychotherapies Service at CNWL, said:
“This is about so much more than dance. It’s been wonderful to see the dancers finding connection in so many different ways - building confidence and discovering empowerment through expression and creativity. The playfulness of Alice Magic elevates the experience, making it accessible and fun, even for our 75-year-old participant who is starting ballet for the first time.
“Evidence shows that being creative and using the various arts modalities is important for our mental wellbeing. We all know the power of that favourite song for lifting our mood, our favourite piece of art on our wall, even choosing a colour of clothing to wear; we express ourselves through the arts every day without even realising.”
The participants, many of whom have no previous dance experience, have formed a close-knit group as they work together to co-create their performance. Through the shared experience of dance, they have found connection and joy.
Lucas, a participant, shares: “It's been transformative and a real confidence builder. I've made some really good friends which is the most important thing.”
Jonny, another participant, said: “Really inspired by everyone and I think we all underestimate ourselves. It helps me and I believe it helps everyone to challenge their fears. Very inspiring. We all have our fears regardless of mental state and if you can challenge that you feel more empowered.”
David Pickering, Learning and Participation Creative Associate and Former Royal Ballet Dancer at the Royal Ballet and Opera, said:
“Dance is an incredibly powerful way to express yourself and I feel very privileged to be able to help this wonderful group of dancers find that within themselves. For projects like this we always aim to work with communities who are often underrepresented in the arts to give more people the chance to engage with ballet and opera in new ways. Working with this brilliant group of people we hope to show them and others that ballet is for everyone.”