I was invited to give an in-person presentation “EXA and Dementia: The Big Surprise!” for the CATA-OEATA national conference on September 27, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Canadian Art Therapy Association/Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association)
As part of the OEATA Post-Conference Highlight series, I will be offering an online version of this workshop on January 16, 2025.
Musical Play (january 2026 in british Columbia)
”I Don’t Belong Here: Stories and Songs at the Edge of Forgetting”
A powerful 2-act play with music that takes audiences on a journey through a day in a dementia care facility. Award-winning singer-actor, Joëlle Rabu, delivers a powerful performance, embodying the perspectives of residents, care aides, and family members alike.
Performances in Courtney, BC (Jan. 17th), Sidney, BC (Jan. 21st), and Nanaimo, BC (Jan. 24-25th), 2026.
https://joellerabu.com/touring-shows/i-dont-belong-here/
Resource People
A Daily Dose of Music Conference: Creative Caring for Seniors: A conference organized by Lulu Leathley in Vancouver in May 2018
The six presenters listed below all highly experienced in working with seniors and music. I used many of their ideas while working with elders with dementia.
They are excellent resource people and they would be happy to help.
Lulu Leathley (Vancouver, BC)
www.lulujam.com
Jane Bentley, PhD (Glasgow, Scotland)
artbeatmusic.org
Mary Knysh (Bloomsburg, PA)
rhythmicconnections.com
Diana Hull, PA, MPH (Santa Cruz, CA)
mindNhealth.com
Phyllis Mueller (McHenry, IL)
gohealthdrum.com
Tomoko Yokota (Matsuyama, on the island of Shikoku in Southern Japan)
orangeboomboom.com/tt/ (Japanese website)
https://villagemusiccircles.com/playshops-trainings/vmc-certification/tomoko-yokota/ (English website)
Research Centres
Brams - International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research (Montréal, Canada)
In the media section, a wealth of videos, interviews, podcasts, documentaries, research project resumés, many including dementia.
https://brams.org/
Workshops and Courses
Carl Orff Canada
https://orffcanada.ca/home/
Every province has an Orff chapter, such as Orff Manitoba, Orff BC, Ontario Orff Chapter, etcetera.
Affordable membership. Excellent, super-fun workshops several times a year. Some provincial chapters offer summer intensives.
Creative Dance Center (Seattle, WA, USA)
with Anne Green-Gilbert
Summer intensives for dance educators focus on teaching creative dance and Brain-compatible dance education.
https://www.creativedance.org/
Brain Dance Information
https://www.creativedance.org/brain-dance/
Les Grands Ballets
Le Centre national de danse-thérapie (CNDT) (Montréal, Québec)
Check out their short video capsules with Brain Dance, creative dance, and stretching, etcetera in the “Video” menu.
https://grandsballets.com/fr/centre-national-de-danse-therapie/a-propos-du-centre/
Rhythm, Rhythm, Rhythm (Edmonton, Alberta)
Drum Circles for Youth Training, Youth Educator Training , and rhythm intensives
with Lucas Coffey
https://www.rhythmrhythmrhythm.com/
Village Music Circles: Facilitating Human Potential Through Rhythm
with Arthur Hull (Santa Cruz, CA)
https://villagemusiccircles.com
Music for People (Immaculata, PA)
Social music improvisation. Workshops for the public, and musicianship and leadership training.
https://musicforpeople.org/
Irene Feher (Montréal, Québec)
”Music for People” Facilitator and an excellent singing and improvisation teacher. I did both online classes and an in-person private class when I was visiting Montréal. Irene tailored my private class to provide me with specific ideas and exercises that would work with a one-on-one therapy client or a therapeutic group.
ONLINE EuSing! Improv Singing Sessions every other Tuesday 12 noon EST (Montréal) - check your time zone and see if you can join in. Pay for one class at a time.
https://www.livingyourmusic.com/what-s-coming
Free Resources and Ideas
Playlist For Life (UK)
Free resources to help you create music playlists for people with dementia.
https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/
Real Life Stories - lots of short videos that are very inspiring and touching!
https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/real-life-stories/
Conductorcise
with Maetro David Dworkin (New York)
Low-impact fitness fusion, and musical workout, done while “conducting” classical music.
https://dworkincompany.com/site/artist/conductorcise/
How Puppetry and Theatre are Helping People with Dementia
ABC News, Australia (Newspaper article)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-30/benefits-puppetry-to-help-people-with-dementia/100308718
Le Papillon Blanc Danse (Québec City)
L’idée au départ était d’investir les milieux de santé et de rencontrer des personnes vulnérables, malades, en perte d’autonomie par le médium d’une danse contemporaine.
A modern dance company in Québec dedicated to working with vulnerable populations, including the elderly.
See short videos of interactive dance pieces with elders on their page: Médiation culturelle - À la rencontre
https://lepapillonblanc.ca/
Terrapin (Tasmania, Australia)
A program of drama-therapy-informed puppetry in aged care. This approach performance-based, but also interactive. There is also a scene of a puppet and an individual elderly patient interacting in a non-performance moment.
https://terrapin.org.au/work/forever-young
Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation
The foundations endorses Kirtan Kriya meditation which involves singing the syllables Saa Taa Naa Maa. This non-religious meditative practice reduces stress levels and increases activity in areas of the brain that are central to memory.
https://alzheimersprevention.org/research/kirtan-kriya-yoga-exercise/
Documentary Films
"I Remember Better When I Paint"
The first international documentary about the positive impact of art and other creative therapies on people with Alzheimer's. (2009, 54 minutes)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1595878/
“Alive Inside”
Alive Inside is a joyous cinematic exploration of music's capability to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country whose minds have been revitalized and awakened by the simple act of listening to the music of their youth. (2014, 1 hour 17 min)
trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaB5Egej0TQ
full movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9IHUPamCB4
YouTube Videos
Former Ballerina with Alzheimer's Performs 'Swan Lake' Dance (2:37 minutes)
I have watched this many times. It is very touching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT_tW3EVDK8
Ted ED: How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain by Anita Collins (4:44 minutes)
A fantastic short animation that always gets me inspired about practicing or learning a new instrument! Highly convincing of our need to include music education in schools and to continue offering active musical opportunities for the elderly. I’ve watched it many times too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng
Le Papillon Blanc Danse
A Québecois contemporary dance company that works with vulnerable populations, including the elderly. I have met with them and discussed their work, and have been trying to participate in their visits to the elderly for years!
“Lorsque la beauté surgit” (3:36 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1feAkkCeok&t=212s
“Rencontre” (6:46 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTVp2i0tI_8
Conductorcise - A Sound Workout for Mind, Body, and Soul with Maetro David Dworkin (4:30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYlXRkI3Sis
Forever Young Puppetry in Aged Care (Tasmania, Australia) (3:45 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_omHWJhdkDI
“Lucidity” by On Site Opera
A new opera about Music, Memory Loss and Human Connection (4:59 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ9twH-GuUY
A Panel Discussion about “Lucidity”
A discussion hosted by “On Site Opera”(Seattle, WA) on the topic of ”Music & Memory”. The panel discusses the complexity and plasticity of the brain, and how music-making is the most complex art mode that engages every part of the brain. Excerpts of the opera are included, as well as a contribution by a neurosurgeon. (30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nrXgCBE9F0
Ressources En français
“J’ai souvenir encore”
Filme documentaire sur Ici Tou.TV
France Beaudoin entreprend une quête personnelle pour comprendre le pouvoir de la musique sur la maladie d’Alzheimer.
https://ici.tou.tv/
“J’ai souvenir encore”
Balados sur Radio-Canada Ohdio
Quatre épisodes par Frances Beaudoin
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/balados/13137/france-beaudoin-jai-souvenir-encore-le-balado
Photo: Joe W. A participant of the Expressive Arts Therapy workshops with Janet Walker, during the Elder’s Interdisciplinary Art Show at Eden Gardens Compassionate Dementia Care. May 3, 2025.