Clackmannanshire company leads in care home wellbeing.

Stepping into the realm of health and wellbeing, danceSing, a Clackmannanshire-based business, is basking in the glory of its success in revolutionising care home wellbeing across Scotland. Established in 2016 by Natalie Garry, a former professional ballet dancer, danceSing was born out of a vision to enhance lives through the transformative power of music and movement. Their innovative approach has yielded remarkable results, with a 49% reduction in depression rates and a 25% improvement in sleep quality observed in just a span of 12 weeks.

danceSing offers a diverse range of services that seamlessly blend arts and fitness, incorporating elements like singing and sound, movement, spirit and soul, reminiscence, and even a dedicated non-stop wellbeing radio station. In 2021, the company made its foray into the care sector, tailoring its unique resources to cater to the needs of older adults residing in care settings. Today, with a team of 12 consultants, danceSing provides extensive training and support to care teams across the UK, from Jersey to Shetland.

The year 2022 marked a significant milestone for danceSing as they secured a substantial contract with the Scottish Government, necessitating the delivery of their services to 77 care homes spread across every health board in Scotland. Over the past eight years, danceSing has been the recipient of invaluable guidance and support from Business Gateway, which has played a pivotal role in enhancing the company’s commercial prowess through tailored advice on business strategies and innovation.

Business Gateway facilitated danceSing’s partnership with the University of Stirling, renowned for their expertise in ageing and dementia research, through Interface. This collaboration led to impactful studies assessing the impact of danceSing’s classes on residents of Balhousie Care Group and Holmes Care Group. The findings were nothing short of astounding, showcasing a 25% increase in sleep quality, a 31% reduction in the fear of falling, and a remarkable 49% decrease in depression rates among participants.

As danceSing prepares to embark on a third round of studies with Abbotsford Care Homes, the company is also gearing up to extend its services to American care homes in 2025. Lynn Dickson, an adviser at Business Gateway Clackmannanshire, commended Natalie Garry’s unwavering commitment to promoting wellbeing through arts and fitness, underscoring the profound impact of danceSing’s classes.

Natalie Garry, the visionary behind danceSing, expressed her satisfaction with the company’s recent endeavours, particularly highlighting their collaboration with Interface in assessing and enhancing digital health resources for care homes. This initiative focuses on augmenting the wellbeing of older adults through the incorporation of music and movement-based activities. Garry also extended her gratitude to MSP Maree Todd for her consistent support towards danceSing’s initiatives.

Garry acknowledged the indispensable role played by Business Gateway in nurturing danceSing at every stage of its journey, attributing a significant portion of the company’s success to their unwavering support throughout the years. She expressed profound appreciation for the guidance received, which has been instrumental in propelling danceSing to its current position of prominence in the realm of care home wellbeing.