Artist – Justin Grounds & Inma Pavon
Dancing at Bealtaine
Clonakilty Community Hospital
Residents at Clonakilty Community Hospital worked with Arts for Health musician/compser Justin Grounds and dance artist Inma Pavon to celebrate Bealtaine. Together they explored the colours, sounds, and memories of summer, and how dancing fit into it all.
The project began with the group singing songs and playing tunes that are associated with summer. Later, they spoke about traditions associated with Bealtaine – the feast, the fire, the colour of yellow, as well as chatting about the English tradition of Maypole dancing.
Inma brought lots of coloured silks into the hospital. She set up in the middle of the room, each participant held a different coloured silk, and Inma spun a Maypole dance.
People shared their memories of platform dancing on Sunday evenings throughout the summer, and the group decided to write a poem about this together. Many residents were very proactive in adding their own lines to the poem. When it was complete, one participant read the poem allowed and it was recorded. Justin compiled a short film showcasing Inma dancing with the silks, the music of ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’, and the recording of the poem over it.
Participants said of the project that they really enjoyed the elements of music, dance, and poetry coming together.
Timeframe
This project took place in May 2018.
This project was supported by the Arts for Health Partnership Programme, West Cork.