 Dance Interactive Arts Our Banner Yet Waves Presented by Doris Levy, MFA, DTR, Dance Therapist, New Hanover Medical Regional Medical Center Glenna Batson, PT, MA, Director Wellness Partners in the Arts, Western Carolina University 
The culminating Training Institute experience was designed to integrate the three categories of participants, Caregivers, Care Receivers, and Care Administrators, through a movement experience. Earlier in the day, participants created 3 large fiber art banners from a huge assortment of fabrics, ribbons, paper, thread and needles, beads, pens, paints, glue, and many other materials. Each banner was labeled, “Caregivers,” “Care Receivers,” and “Care Administrators,” and participants were invited to create something on the banner or banners that represented their experiences with arts and healing. The banners were available throughout the day. At noon, participants gathered to drum together in a healing rhythm drum circle. Participants were invited to try different drums and percussion instruments and were challenged to play their own variations while entraining to the underlying rhythm of the ensemble. 
In the final arts experience of the day, 3 drummers ushered participants through a canopy of flowing white fabric into an open space where the banners they had created earlier lay in a large triangle formation on the floor. Additional fabrics and ribbons of varying sizes and textures, lay beside each banner. Participants were invited to choose a piece of the fabric and move to the drum rhythms, first alone, then with others. Gradually, with their intertwining dance, participants wove and knotted the fabric together. The finished shape of colorful interwoven fabric became the center of the triangle, symbolizing the gathering of individuals with varying experiences, interests, and needs into a group with a common goal. As the group finished the dance in silence and stillness, the Institute Chairperson verbalized this symbolism and expressed optimism about the continued growth of NCAH as an organization that weaves care providers, care administrators and care receivers into a powerful and creative network. |