When words fail, movement speaks.
This powerful idea lies at the heart of our conversation with Donna Schoenherr, award-winning dancer, choreographer, and founder of Ballet4Life® and Move into Wellbeing®, two London-based organizations bringing the joy of dance to people of all ages and abilities.

Inspired by her father’s 30-year journey with Parkinson’s, Donna has spent decades creating inclusive spaces where movement becomes a bridge to connection, confidence, and joy. In this episode, she shares moving stories—from a former principal dancer rediscovering her spark despite early dementia, to a once non-verbal gentleman gradually engaging in class after months of silence.

What sets Donna’s approach apart is its openness. She enters each class without assumptions, watching for the smallest cues that might open the door to engagement. Her work invites us to reimagine what’s possible—not through complex techniques, but through creativity, presence, and play.

We discuss:

How Donna’s personal journey led to founding two pioneering dance organizations
Why improvisation, mirroring, and sensory cues can be more powerful than structured routines
How touch, music, and storytelling help restore connection for people with cognitive challenges
Practical ways to bring movement and creative expression into everyday dementia care
The growing momentum in dementia-inclusive arts programs across the UK

Donna’s story is a beautiful reminder that care doesn’t always begin with words—it can begin with rhythm, gesture, or a shared moment of movement.

Subscribe and join us every other Thursday as we continue redefining dementia, one conversation at a time.

Donna's Organizations:

Move into Wellbeing

Ballet4Life

Donna's LinkedIn

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Donna Schoenherr: The Power of Dance in Dementia Care

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