AMU brings joy to the elderly with theatre, music and dancing

Since June, DAMU and HAMU students have been visiting homes for the elderly and performing for their clients. They activate the elderly with tango classes, Celtic harp concerts and theatre plays. This brings pleasant memories to many of the homes’ clients and they often join in. AMU will continue its programme for the elderly until the end of this year.

The Eliška Purkyňová Home for the Elderly in Prague-Břevnov is buzzing with activity. Throughout August and September, the facility has hosted discussions with artists, lectures, and theatre and dance performances. Aiming to brighten older people’s lives, AMU prepared a varied art programme for them. A rhythm therapy session during which the home’s clients learned tango was one of those afternoons. Their coach was Kristýna Břeská, dancer and alumna of AMU’s Music and Dance Faculty. “I had taught Argentina tango at homes for the elderly even before AMU launched this programme. Working with old people made gave me joy and a sense of purpose. When AMU approached us, I wanted to follow up on my previous experience,” says Břeská. 

In her classes, she tries to channel the essence of Argentina tango, which she sees in the connection between the dancers and in listening to the tango genre music. “I structure my classes for everyone to enjoy those qualities, even in a wheelchair. I also remind myself before every class that I want to share the joy that tango gives me and let the clients ‘take a breath’ of tango with me,” says Kristýna. Tango classes involve several simple exercises for the homes’ clients to practice rhythm, motor skills and the sense of touch. “Some actually dance with me. In addition to various activities, they can also just listen to stories from the world of tango, and I always dance for them in the end,” she adds.

What was the viewers’ response? Kristýna says the elderly are a great audience in that they let the performer know immediately whether or not they like the show, whether it entertains or bores them. “One day, I was describing how men ask ladies for a dance, and suddenly Mr Leon was right next to me, grabbed my hand, squeezed me tight and began dancing with me. The other clients started to laugh and clap heartily, and it turned into a bit of a dancehall. Some want to try my tango shoes on or take a photo with me, and they ask me when I will come back at the end of the class. With that said, it is completely different every time,” Břeská smiles. She adds that the elderly crave others’ attention and time – they love contact with someone who pays close attention to them even for a short while and takes them out of their rut. “In addition, dancing brings back their nice memories. After the class, they always tell me that I took them back in time and how they would dance with their spouses and party all night long. They sometimes ask me to dance polka for them,” adds Břeská. 

Students show great interest

AMU’s project for the homes for the elderly was conceived this spring based on an idea of Jan Hančil, the Vice-Rector at the time. AMU’s PR office approached two of its Faculties, DAMU and HAMU, and asked if their students were interested in visiting the homes and performing for their clients. “We were surprised by how many said yes,” Vice-Rector Jitka Goriaux admits. In addition to tango classes, the homes’ clients could also see the play Krajina v batůžku, examples of pantomime performed by student Tereza Hromádková from HAMU’s Nonverbal Theatre Department, and listen to Alžběta Trojanová playing the Celtic harp as well as Johana Vavřínová and Pavla Šefrnová singing a series of Jan Skácel’s poems put to music. Students and alumni of FAMU’s Department of Photography are in charge of providing photographic evidence, which the homes then receive free of charge.

Why is AMU targeting the elderly? “Because almost no one else targets them,” explains Hana Šťastná from AMU’s marketing section. To date, students have visited close to 10 homes for the elderly in and outside the capital city; in addition to Prague, they performed at the home for the elderly in Pyšely in Central Bohemia, for example. According to Šťastná, this project is the very first effort where programme for the elderly is organised across the entire AMU, involving all of its Faculties. 

Encouraging intergenerational dialogue

According to the former Vice-Rector Hančil, the objective of the project is not only to offer the elderly entertainment and cultural experiences but also to encourage intergenerational dialogue and connect young artists with the older generation. “We are immensely happy to contribute our programmes to brighten older people’s lives. The exceptional interest among students in our initiative made me really happy – our students are aware that they can help. Their involvement can help them improve their sense of understanding and contribute to the maturing of their artistic expression,” says Jan Hančil.

The Academy’s leadership would like the project to continue for as long as possible because it has been a success with the audiences as well as with the performers who are happy to join in.

Photo: Irina Degtereva and Nikita Kartashev