Dance and movement can be a beautiful way to reconnect with the body, release emotions and feel more like yourself again. It can be a fantastic complementary therapy to support your physical wellbeing and improve mindfulness.
What are the benefits of dance or movement to someone with cancer?
You don’t need to be a dancer to feel the benefits of gentle movement. Cancer and its various treatments can make you feel disconnected from your body, and certainly tired, sore and not quite yourself. Movement helps gently rebuild that connection. Whether it’s stretching to music, swaying to a rhythm or simply moving in a way that feels good, it can improve circulation, aid recovery, boost energy, ease stiffness and help your balance. Whatever your fitness levels before, dance and movement provide gentle exercise to help you keep in shape.
There are many emotional benefits too. Movement can help release built-up stress or anxiety in a way that other activities sometimes can’t. Participants in our sessions tell us that they are a calming, meditative experience and a time to be themselves. Dance and movement encourage self-expression, lightness and even joy, a reminder that there’s still room for laughter and creativity in the midst of treatment or recovery. It can help you feel more alive, more hopeful and more in control.
Our sessions take place online over Zoom. With no need to travel or worry about the weather, it’s easy to fit a session into your day, whether you’re in your living room, kitchen or garden. You can join in at your own pace, in a space that feels safe and familiar. It’s a welcoming, judgement-free environment where all bodies and abilities are embraced and there’s no pressure to get all the steps right. Being part of a group class, you still get that sense of community and shared understanding that is so valuable, but from the comfort of your own home. Just come as you are and enjoy the ease and joy of moving together, wherever you are.
How can dance and movement help our loved ones?Â
Supporting a loved one with cancer can be physically and emotionally demanding, and partners and carers often put their own needs last. Dance and movement can offer a much-needed outlet, a chance to release stress, boost mood and reconnect with your own body. It’s a gentle way to let go of tension and find moments of joy, even during the tough times. Our sessions also offer a supportive space to meet others who understand what you’re going through, helping you feel less alone. Taking time to move and express yourself isn’t just good for your body, it’s vital for your emotional wellbeing, so you can continue to care for your loved one with greater resilience and calm.
How to refer
If you are new to Wessex Cancer Support and have not already had a wellbeing assessment with one of our friendly team, we ask that you contact us to make a referral for an appointment. Our team will provide you with further information and availability of any activities you both decide on. As a new client, we’ll add you to our email newsletter list so you can keep an eye on forthcoming activities, too.
Alternatively, you can email careteam@wessexcancer.org.uk to book your initial chat or drop into your local cancer support centre in person.
What we offer
Join us for our uplifting Dance and Movement sessions, where gentle stretches, flowing movements and beautiful music come together to support your wellbeing. Led by Natasha, an experienced and much-loved community dance teacher with over fourteen years’ experience, these classes are designed to be slow, simple and accessible to all. We use a chair for stability so there’s no need to worry if some movements feel challenging. Each 90-minute session weaves in graceful elements from dance styles like the Viennese waltz, American Smooth, Salsa and Flamenco, all thoughtfully adapted to be easy to follow and enjoy from home. The music adds a joyful, energising touch, helping to lift your mood while gently improving strength, balance and mobility. No steps to learn, no pressure, just a welcoming space to move and feel good.
Donate to support a
dance and movement session
Your donation helps make services like our meditation sessions possible. Helping to promote physical health and wellbeing, our dance and movement sessions, provide the gentle, exercise that can actively support recovery from cancer treatments. £20 could help support the cost of a meditation session for a client, giving them the support they need at a difficult time in their lives.
Dance and meditation sessions are generously funded by people who donate, fundraise, and shop with us. Every penny you donate makes a huge difference. From everyone at Wessex Cancer Support, thank you.
