09.11.2026

3 min read

What is Move & Connect, and how can dance bring people together? We caught up with Lead Dance Artist, Bettina, to find out more about our welcoming, inclusive open dance sessions, which invite people of all dance experiences, backgrounds and abilities to explore movement, creativity and connection.

Hi Bettina! First of all, what is Move and Connect? What can people expect from the sessions?

Move and Connect is an open level dance class that is facilitated by a host of different experienced dance teachers every other Tuesday morning. The sessions are different each time, but what you can expect is a very lovely, welcoming and generous group of people from all walks of life with different ages and different backgrounds, and an open and inclusive approach to dance and creative movement. Move & Connect sessions encourage movement exploration, playfulness, joy in moving and connecting with others, agency and creativity. I would describe Move & Connect as adventures in movement and dance. Joining Move & Connect never fails to lift my spirit!

How and why did the sessions start? How were you involved?

The idea for the sessions grew out of a sense of teaching a lot of different dance sessions but rarely being able to take part in somebody else’s session as a participant. Given that there are some fabulous local dance artists in the area, the idea was to take turns to teach/deliver sessions but also make these accessible to the wider community, to any body who likes to move and be creative in a safe, fun and encouraging environment.

Why should people come to the sessions?

I’m obviously biased, but dancing for me is the best way of not only staying physically active and fit but also mentally sane. There is significant evidence out there about the benefits of dancing…not only for all the obvious physical benefits such as better posture, improved mobility, strength, flexibility, coordination, balance and overall agility, but also for the fact that dancing improves brain plasticity. Dance ranks among the top activities for reducing dementia risk because it forces both sides of the brain to work simultaneously by tracking rhythm, co-ordinating, learning and sometimes remembering movement, managing spatial awareness and interaction with other bodies. Another brilliant bit of evidence suggests that dancing is as good as – and occasionally more effective than – other physical activities for improving mental health and cognitive function. Finally, you will meet a lovely groups of people who are all passionate about dancing! In short, I do it because it keeps me sane and grounded and takes me away from my head and into my body. I love it; it really makes me come alive!

What happens throughout the session? How does it start, continue and end?

It is impossible to say exactly what happens, as each session is unique and each teacher brings in their own style and line of inquiry. However, we often start with simple exercises to bring awareness to posture and breath, giving attention to each body part and each joint, and we usually finish by bringing everything that we have done in the session together in the form of a structured improvisation, perhaps a movement phrase. Generally the emphasis of the sessions is to explore movement in structured, guided and safe ways. Even if you have never danced before, all exercises are fully accessible and inclusive, that is the spirit of Move & Connect.

How would you describe the sessions in three words?

Inspiring, joyful & enriching!

If you’re interested in joining us at Move & Connect, sessions run every other Tuesday, 9:30-11am, at Studio by Storyhouse, Chester.

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE