Dancing through cancer:

Emily Jenkins advocates for the importance of movement in cancer care as the Director of Move Dance Feel. Founded in 2016, the company offers dance to women living with and beyond cancer. We sat down together to discuss how dance can positively support physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing, as well as help women to rebuild trust in themselves to ultimately rediscover their power.

Does movement have a positive impact on cancer and cancer treatment?

Yes! Physical activity is recommended at all stages of a cancer experience. Physical activity can help to prepare the body and mind for potential surgery and treatment, building a general sense of resilience. During treatment it can result in more positive responses associated with energy levels, weight management, improved self-esteem, and well-being.^1,2,3 And continuing physical activity post treatment can improve physical strength and mental health such as reducing the stress, fear and anxiety cancer can bring into your life.^3,4,5

You can consult your healthcare team to see if this is right for you.

How can it help me mentally?

Cancer can cause radical changes to the body, evoking feelings of worry, fear, distrust and dislike. Yet to overcome hardship and move towards healing, it’s important for people to re-find a sense of trust in themselves, to rediscover a sense of strength and to re-connect with their body positively. This is what dance offers.

By moving in new and joyous ways, we begin to see new possibilities - coming into greater contact with what our body can do as opposed to being confronted by what it can’t. This process of reconciliation is catalysed though dancing, and the Move Dance Feel approach, specifically, accommodates and celebrates women exactly as they are.

We know that moving the body moves the mind, and that the positive emotions generated through dancing has a definitive impact on our physiology. Dancing is an antidepressant and provides instant stress and anxiety relief, helping us to cultivate a deeper sense of presence in, and appreciation for, the here and now

I don’t really know how to dance and I’ve never taken a dance class before. Does that matter?

Not at all! Dance is all about imagination, play and amplifying shared joy. It is not about perfection, but rather about the process of creation and finding freedom in movement. 

This often leads to a sense of liberation and empowerment, which translates into enhanced body appreciation, emotional intelligence, self-identity, social connection and helps better manage symptoms and difficult side effects of treatment. 

If navigating fluctuations in energy or pain, the most important consideration is to seek guidance from a professional. This could be guidance from a professionally trained dance artist, of which Move Dance Feel has a directory, or from a healthcare professional. 

So, what is the role of Move Dance Feel for women living with cancer? 

Move Dance Feel exists to fill a gap in cancer care, which often overlooks a person’s ongoing physical and psychosocial support needs. Our mission is to make dance and movement accessible to all women affected by cancer, and to advocate for dance in care services.

Our activities are described as life enhancing, and never is that more needed than when facing cancer. Our primary focus is to unite women through dance and foster a palpable sense of support, whilst guiding them to deeply connect with themselves through physical and creative expression. 

We always guide with two dance artists in a session, which helps to generate a sense of community and ensure that everyone in the room feels seen, welcomed and valued.

We also encourage reflection and social time to develop friendships, and have found that this results in Move Dance Feel acting as a ‘gateway’ - motivating people to pursue additional physical and social activities.

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References:

1. La Cour K, Ledderer L, Hansen HP. Storytelling as part of cancer rehabilitation to support cancer patients and their relatives. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2016;34(6):460-476. doi:10.1080/07347332.2016.1217964
2. Macdonald ER, Clifford BK, Simar D, Ward RE. Ballet after breast cancer: investigating the feasibility and acceptability of a novel 16-week classical ballet intervention for breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(12):9909-9919. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07420-9
3. Thieser S, Dörfler J, Rudolph I, Wozniak T, Schmidt T, Hübner J. Influence of ballroom dancing on fatigue, body image, self-efficacy, and endurance of cancer patients and their partners. Med Oncol. 2021;38(2):15. Published 2021 Jan 28. doi:10.1007/s12032-021-01459-0
4. Karkou V, Dudley-Swarbrick I, Starkey J, et al. Dancing with health: Quality of life and physical improvements from an EU collaborative dance programme with women following breast cancer treatment. Frontiers. January 27, 2021. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635578/full.
5. Weis J, Golombek K. Tanztheater als unterstützungsangebot für Krebsüberlebende Frauen: Eine Explorative Studie. Physikalische Medizin, Rehabilitationsmedizin, Kurortmedizin. October 2, 2019. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-1010-6682.
6. A Service Evaluation of Move Dance Feel. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.flipsnack.com/movedancefeel/move-dance-feel-service-evaluation-april-2019.html

UK | December 2024 | FA-11282418