1 of 9

VIA – Vivência Integral Artística�[Integral Artistic Experience]�Portugal

Diana Lopes

Municipality of Lisbon

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

2 of 9

VIA – Vivência Integral Artística�[Integral Artistic Experience]

Project aimed at everyone, without age barriers, or special conditions, based on Body Being and Dance as a movement of integration of the soul, body, and spirit, in an eco-human and sustainable theme, based on artistic and performative arts, through the contemporary dance methodology & DanceFulness from Amalgama.

3 of 9

VIA – Vivência Integral Artística�[Integral Artistic Experience]

Main public: informal caregivers

​

The project had two different activities (could be complementary):

  1. Weekly meetings, Mondays - 06/Jan to 28/Apr – in Associação Alzheimer Portugal and Dona Ajuda facilities, a more artistic approach on Dance and Movement for 1 hour
  2. Every 15 days, Saturdays – 11/Jan to 10/May – in CSP Arroios facilities, training meeting, in modules that offer theoretical and practical material, session plans and all the necessary tools to guide future application of the methods, providing follow-up and continuity to the project for 6 hours.

4 of 9

VIA – Vivência Integral Artística�[Integral Artistic Experience]

Objectives:

  • Provide better communication and relationship skills with oneself, with others and the environment;
  • Have greater self-knowledge of one own potential;
  • Hand over global awareness, cultural and civic sense;
  • Give the ability to dance, express, contemplate, meditate, and feel, providing greater well-being, empowerment, autonomy, and self-esteem;
  • Pass on the importance of art in the construction and evolution of life, for oneself and societies;
  • Provide changes to practitioners, revelations, perceptions, sensations, reflections, changing fundamental paradigms for a holistic and eco-human art to be revealed on the path to self-knowledge, quality of life and well-being.

​

5 of 9

VIA – Vivência Integral Artística�[Integral Artistic Experience]

RESULTS

Brought innovation:

  • It's not just a therapeutic, social, or training project, or even a project to acquire tools for these caregivers to use with their target populations, but above all it’s a project for the well-being of caregivers themselves through practice and the artistic processes;
  • art as a privileged vehicle for reconnecting with oneself;

Brought difficulties:

- To motivate the caregivers (in terms of availability, schedule, but also in receiving care and attention)

- Communication has to be more targeted and with more time

6 of 9

VIA – Vivência Integral Artística�[Integral Artistic Experience]

HUMAN REACH

25 participants

– 12 in the Training Meetings and 4 to 5 in the artistic interventions at Mondays

Some gave up during the process, due to difficulties in reconciling activities and caring for the person with specific needs or work.

​

7 of 9

VIA – Vivência Integral Artística�[Integral Artistic Experience]

8 of 9

VIA – Vivência Integral Artística�[Integral Artistic Experience]

9 of 9

​

​

Working on the body is liberating; with perfect guidance, it's healing! – Andréia P.

​

​

It has been a very enriching experience for my personal development – Elisabete S.

​

​

Truly tension-releasing work for caregivers. I always leave feeling more aware, calmer and inspired – Susana S.

​

​

The continuity of the project is important – Silvia B.