Dance Well in Warneford hospital, Oxford, 17 Feb
Monday 17 February 2025
9:30am to 3pm
Highfield Unit
On Monday, February 17th, 2025, Akademi were invited by the Highfield Unit at Warneford Hospital in Oxford to deliver Dance Well workshops specifically designed for young patients living with eating disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The participants were a group of 11 teenage girls.
The workshops, led by Akademi artist Jesal Patel, were aimed at enhancing the physical, mental, and social well-being of the young people receiving care at the unit. Jesal, a specialist in South Asian dance forms an arts in health, led the participants through a range of engaging movement activities.
The sessions focused on incorporating elements of traditional South Asian dance, providing a unique and culturally rich experience for the young patients. The goal was to encourage participants to engage in more cultural and exercise activities than they had previously. The workshops also aimed to equip participants with the tools to better self-manage their chronic conditions by encouraging the incorporation of exercise into their daily routines.
Feedback from both participants and staff was overwhelmingly positive. They reported that they felt more energised and happy. The workshops provided a welcome opportunity for the young people to express themselves through movement and connect with others in a supportive environment.
“I feel more flexible, and loose.”
young patient
“The young people thoroughly enjoyed the session and felt relaxed and calm afterwards. And we could see it: everyone was smiling and having fun together. It was great to see how they interacted with it, and everyone there was able to participate. We hadn’t seen such level of engagement from some of the young people in a long time, so it was wonderful to witness.”
NHS Staff at the Highfield unit
The success of the Dance Well workshops highlights the power of creative arts therapies in supporting the well-being of young people facing mental health challenges.
