Lisnaskea ladies
Title of Work: Lifes Road Trip
Facilitating Artist: Carmel Garvey
Having travelled along the road of dance, creativity, and performance, with our novice, but extremely eager Lisnaskea Group through the very first Here and Now festival 10 years ago, it was very comfortable connecting with them again. The group did unusually, show reluctancy at the beginning. This reluctance stemmed from a journey and a road trip they had never travelled before. The highway named Zoom… Proving their resilience, the group overcome this unknown twist and turn facing us in 2021, and, as in previous years they put their best foot forward to create each week some very impressive moves. While also having obtained a new skill.
The group shared with me their delight to be back dancing together. As each week came and past, I could identify, with great delight, their confidence growing. And their old positive selves shining through, rearing to ‘get up and dance’. Shedding what was a tough year past, and looking forward to the possibility of getting together to dance and perform again. Their own personal movement and belief in themselves was improving. Laughter was a big part of the session. Raising moods and creating an awareness of positivity for the future ahead.
Lena brought her husband each week to learn new skills and to reminisce old times dancing alongside each other. This time in their kitchen. Our three sisters joined us, Ann, Rosaline and Vera, alongside Sheila, Theresa, Mary, Brenda, Donna, and some very welcome new dancers. ‘It’s great to get moving again’ ‘that was lots of fun’ ‘I feel so much better after the session’ ‘the music brings back lots of memories from times gone by’ ‘thank you Carmel, for the opportunity to connect with the group again’. ‘I am really enjoying the class, as I had gotten so stiff in lockdown, but I am now starting to loosen up. I am trying to practice at home’.
Coming together as we did on Zoom live, awakened in our group memories of good times gone by, visited by the music we danced to. Also, very importantly the personal belief and enthusiasm for more opportunities to dance and perform together again in the near future.
The Lisnaskea dance group have been ambassadors for older people. They deliver the message of positivity and diversity. They depict the necessity to move and keep active. Their light shines bright like a beacon for good physical and mental health in older age. I firmly believe and have witnessed through this year’s 2021 Here and Now Festival sessions, the switch that lit up our Lisnaskea dancers. A light that may never have perhaps ignited again, had we not have offered and delivered our Live Zoom sessions.
