Evaluation

Akademi has a long track record of providing high impact, evidence-led interventions to improve health and wellbeing, particularly amongst older people.

The following reports provide in-depth information on Akademi’s important work in this area. Click on the images to download the reports in PDF format. For learning and participation enquiries please contact Kavya Iyer, kavya@akademi.co.uk.

young people taking part in a dance workshop

SEND schools research project update

In 2022, we embarked on a 3-year research project to better understand the potential benefits of the South Asian dance classes run by Akademi for autistic learners in the SEND schools as part of our Reach Out and Reveal project. This blogpost is written by the researchers on the project, Claire Farmer and Dr. Ashley McGill.

Dance Well

2016–2019
Dance Well is Akademi’s participatory and performance programme, funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund, to improve the health and wellbeing of the general population through the medium of South Asian Dance.
Download PDF, 1.2Mb

Reach Out and Reveal

2018 Project Report
Funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Reach Out and Reveal is a new ‘test and explore’ project looking at how classical Indian dance vocabulary might support the physical and communication needs of children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions.
Download PDF, 600Kb

Tea Dances

Supported by Waltham Forest Culture and led by Akademi, these popular monthly tea dances in Chingford and Leyton attracted a friendly crowd who enjoy a cup of tea and a twirl around the dance floor.
Watch on Youtube

Amina Khayyam with a participant during Inter-Action

The Inter Action Project

The Inter Action project challenged and explored best practice through engaging older adults in dance and related arts activity. It also explored best practice in evaluating and reporting the benefits of dance on older adults as a creative physical process.
Download PDF, 6.9Mb

Active Bodies: Active Minds

Active Bodies: Active Minds was a Research and Development project led by Akademi. It focused on community dance practice, health and wellbeing with older adults.
Download PDF, 1.2Mb

Dancing Moments

Dancing Moments, a creative South Asian dance participation project in which Akademi was a partner. It used dance as a tool for communication and improving physical fitness, to restoring wellbeing for people in the early stages of dementia, as well as their carers.
Download PDF, 3.9Mb