In late October, the Department of Human Services (DHS) issued the sixth annual request for proposals (RFP) for nursing facility performance-based incentive payments (PIPP).

The Dancing Heart ™ – Vital Elders Moving in Community program is a national and local award-winning weekly dance music and story program designed for older adults. Kairos Dance Theatre's professional teaching artists conduct 90-minute Dancing Heart™ workshops weekly at numerous adult day care centers, assisted living centers, and nursing homes in the metropolitan Twin Cities. These sessions provide in-depth opportunities for individual artistic development, higher-level physical activity, and community connection. Sessions include physical and vocal warm-ups, body/brain exercises, dance, theater, storytelling, and choreography. Dances, plays, and stories are built around the elders’ memories, life stories, current emotions and creative ideas, and broader cultural references. Improvisation brings surprises and delights. Two to three teaching artists, trained site staff, and volunteers lead each session with 20–25 elders.

Care Providers of Minnesota was delighted to have The Dancing Heart perform at the 2008 annual convention and its artistic director Maria Genné present an education session.

The Dancing Heart™ is based in research and it continues to study the impact on participants (including professional caregivers, site staff, and family) with our partners, professors at St. Catherine University and their graduate students in occupational and physical therapy.

The Dancing Heart™ is looking for a Twin Cities partner to submit a PIPP grant RFP with them. Proposals are due on February 15, 2012 (by midnight).

If you are interested in learning more about The Dancing Heart™ and a possible PIPP partnership, contact Cheryl Smith csmith@careproviders.org.

Cheryl Smith
952.851.2488
csmith@careproviders.org

Our Sponsors