Connecting with Dance: Identity, Creativity, and Wellbeing through Accessible Movement (113)
Tracks
Track 4
| Tuesday, April 21, 2026 |
| 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM |
| 50 Sussex, Boardroom (Lower Level) |
Overview
Maria Shepertycki, Dr. Martha Holt, Elena Ilin
Details
Learning Objectives: Describe how principles of accessible dance and live music can enhance neuroplasticity, emotional regulation, and social connection relevant to patient care and practitioner wellbeing. Engage in and reflect on embodied movement practices to identify connections between creative expression, professional identity, and empathy in medical practice
Speaker
Dr. Martha Holt
Family Physician
Bruyere Family Medicine - Department of Family Medicine Ottawa
Connecting with Dance: Identity, Creativity, and Wellbeing through Accessible Movement
Abstract
Presenters:
Maria Shepertycki, Dance Educator and Physiotherapy Assistant;
Elena Ilin, Canadian Musician;
Physician Liaison: Martha Holt, MSc, MD, CCFP, FCFP
This experiential workshop examines how creative dance can enhance multiple dimensions of health—physical, emotional, cognitive, and social—while supporting identity formation and ethical awareness among participants (patients and practitioners alike). Adapted for both seated and standing participation, all exercises are fully accessible and require no prior dance experience.
For more than a decade, The School of Dance (Ottawa) has delivered Connecting with Dance, a free community programme designed for seniors and individuals living with Parkinson’s. Grounded in the principles of neuroplasticity, motor learning, and creative cognition, the programme integrates accessible movement with live music and guided imaginative exploration. The approach aligns with evidence-based frameworks such as Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG (LSVT BIG), emphasizing the therapeutic potential of dual-task engagement.
Qualitative data collected from participants and care-partners indicate enhanced confidence, balance, self-efficacy, and social engagement.
Participants reported:
· “Improved self-awareness of my potential gave me courage to keep attending class.”
· “Listening to and observing others helped me understand diverse perspectives.”
· “Clarifying my beliefs, likes, and dislikes was empowering.”
These narratives illustrate the relational impact of identity—how creative expression affirms individuality while cultivating belonging within a shared artistic and therapeutic space.
Framed through theories of embodied identity and reciprocal learning, this workshop positions movement art as both a therapeutic and cerebral practice: a site where artistic expression, rehabilitation science, and lived experience intersect. Findings suggest that integrating arts-based methodologies within healthcare contexts can promote resilience, ethical reflection, and sustained personal and professional growth, highlighting the vital connection between identity, creativity, and wellbeing.
Maria Shepertycki, Dance Educator and Physiotherapy Assistant;
Elena Ilin, Canadian Musician;
Physician Liaison: Martha Holt, MSc, MD, CCFP, FCFP
This experiential workshop examines how creative dance can enhance multiple dimensions of health—physical, emotional, cognitive, and social—while supporting identity formation and ethical awareness among participants (patients and practitioners alike). Adapted for both seated and standing participation, all exercises are fully accessible and require no prior dance experience.
For more than a decade, The School of Dance (Ottawa) has delivered Connecting with Dance, a free community programme designed for seniors and individuals living with Parkinson’s. Grounded in the principles of neuroplasticity, motor learning, and creative cognition, the programme integrates accessible movement with live music and guided imaginative exploration. The approach aligns with evidence-based frameworks such as Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG (LSVT BIG), emphasizing the therapeutic potential of dual-task engagement.
Qualitative data collected from participants and care-partners indicate enhanced confidence, balance, self-efficacy, and social engagement.
Participants reported:
· “Improved self-awareness of my potential gave me courage to keep attending class.”
· “Listening to and observing others helped me understand diverse perspectives.”
· “Clarifying my beliefs, likes, and dislikes was empowering.”
These narratives illustrate the relational impact of identity—how creative expression affirms individuality while cultivating belonging within a shared artistic and therapeutic space.
Framed through theories of embodied identity and reciprocal learning, this workshop positions movement art as both a therapeutic and cerebral practice: a site where artistic expression, rehabilitation science, and lived experience intersect. Findings suggest that integrating arts-based methodologies within healthcare contexts can promote resilience, ethical reflection, and sustained personal and professional growth, highlighting the vital connection between identity, creativity, and wellbeing.
Biography
Dr Martha Holt, Assistant Professor, Clinician teacher, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa
COI Disclosure: I do not have an affiliation (financial or otherwise) with any for-profit or not-for-profit organizations
COI Disclosure: I do not have an affiliation (financial or otherwise) with any for-profit or not-for-profit organizations
Maria Shepertycki
The School Of Dance
CONNECTING WITH DANCE: IDENTITY, CREATIVITY, AND WELLBEING THROUGH ACCESSIBLE MOVEMENT
