Happy Me Dance
Project Wave - Dance in the Community
Project Wave
We’ve focused on the impact that COVID 19 has had on the local community.
As a movement in practice facilitator, Michelle has worked with Dr Peter Lovatt author of the Dance Cure and Lindsey Lovatt, Occupational therapist and has devised and implemented Project Wave – the awakening sessions. Project Wave offer bespoke sessions designed for all age groups to help people reconnect and re-find their ‘rhythm of life’ through dance delivery and participation. There is a strong connection with emotional wellbeing.
Through Project Wave, we are working with the community to understand the impact of COVID-19 has been on people’s physical activity behaviour and support them to begin/return to activity.
Project Wave - The Awakenings was born from Michelle's studies in dance and dance psychology at the Movement in Practice Academy with Dr Peter Lovatt, author of 'The Dance Cure' and founder of the wellness app, 'Move Assure' with Dame Darcey Bussell. Projects are bespoke and designed for individual groups. Michelle’s Project Wave collaborations have so far included working with seniors with Parkinson's, Dementia and mental illness and collaborating with Team Domenica based in Brighton, teaching candidates with learning difficulties.
In November 2023, Michelle was approached by Langton Green resident Sarah Wheatley to design a bespoke project for her daughter Clara and her friends which would be dance based but would also allow a local social outlet for connection away from a college based / home environment. Happy Me Dance successfully applied to National Dance Organisation ISTD Dance for funding and were recipients of the Broadening Access to Dance Award which has allowed the project for a dance class for a Down's Syndrome community to take place.
“I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to visit on Monday and making me feel so welcome. It is so wonderful to see the funding we provide come to life and to witness the impact on the families engaged in your project. It was clear to me that everyone is benefiting hugely from taking part in your sessions. As an organisation, we are passionate about the benefits of dance for everyone, and your project is really achieving this. ”
Michaela Stannard
Head of Strategic Projects and Development - ISTD Dance
Quotes from the Parents
"The group has given Isaac back a community where he feels safe - friendship and self esteem as well as exercise and creativity"
"I found last night very moving. Such a feeling of community and connection and family - a place of love and self worth"
Michelle is grateful to the Langton community for embracing this project so warmly and for the support from LGCSA, Emma Howden at Langton Pavilion Cafe, James Bowdidge at the Community Hub and Paul Curry from Speldhurst Parish Council.
Project Wave Patron, Baroness Rosa Monckton, who recently received her peerage from the King is passionate about, and is a champion for inclusivity. She attended a launch event at the Community Hub in March 2024 and spoke in support of the work of Project Wave and the legacy to further develop the initiative to reach more groups.
Current work has involved collaborations with Sussex Support Service and Team Domenica. We are a member of the Uckfield Chamber of Commerce and were finalists for the Health and Wellbeing Award in the Uckfield Business Awards 2022.
“A great job and it was enjoyable and accessible for all. It was amazing how everyone got involved. The session flowed really well and the music was joyous too.”
Thomas Chapman
Day Services Co-ordinator Sussex Support Service
Baroness Monckton MBE Patron of Project Wave
Rosa is a British businesswoman and charity campaigner. Chief Executive of Tiffany’s in London from opening in 1986, Chief Executive of Asprey & Gerrard in 2000, then becoming non-executive chairman in 2002. Rosa is now a non-executive director of Aurum, which is the holding company for Goldsmith, Mappin & Webb and Watches of Switzerland. Rosa has been awarded with an MBE for all her charitable work for young people with learning disabilities over the years. She has been involved with several charities including Together for Short Lives, The Acorns Children’s Hospice, Downside UP, The Down’s Syndrome Educational Trust, KIDS (charity) and Bulgarian Abandoned Children’s Trust.
Rosa Monckton
Founder & Chairman
“Michelle Clark, the founder of Happy Me Dance, is truly an inspiration. Meeting her and enrolling my daughter Domenica (who happens to have Downs Syndrome) into her class has been life transforming. Michelle is dance. She understands the importance of movement as a way of communicating and expressing yourself. In my daughter’s case, the time she spends with Michelle is a lifeline. Music and dancing for Domenica is a way of being…and not of being different. From September, Michelle will be giving a weekly class to candidates with learning disabilities at Team Domenica in Brighton, and I know that with her professional enthusiasm and extraordinary empathy, these classes will also change lives. Domenica is always proud to wear her Happy Me Dance t-shirt, because as she pointed out to me last week- ‘Happy Me is what I feel after my lesson.”
Rosa Monckton MBE
Founder and Chairman of Team Domenica
Happy Me Dance also offers services including educational consultancy, choreography for events, wedding dance packages and children's parties. For more information, get in touch.