Dance workshop helps Ipswich family cherish son's memory
Laura Brinkley and her daughters Evelyn and Grace danced, played and tried on motion-capture suits at a special Ipswich workshop designed to help them feel closer to Elliot, the baby boy and brother who died in 2013 aged just 15 days old.
Why it matters: DanceEast and KDE Dance in collaboration with East Anglia's Children's Hospice (EACH), hosted a bereavement day. It gave a family a unique way to process grief together through creativity.
The details: The morning began with a 20-minute performance in which dancers used movement, music and motion capture suits to create a visually striking experience, with their choreography projected onto a large screen behind them.
The family then took part in interactive movement games, including mirror exercises and learning short choreographed sequences, before trying on the motion capture suits themselves.
What they're saying: Laura said: "It was such a special and beautiful experience – something we all loved and were able to enjoy together.
"I always grab any opportunity to do things like this, because it's a chance to take some time and indulge in our memories of Elliot. As strange as it may sound, it makes me feel closer to him, as though we've spent the day together.
"Everyone was so accommodating, and we were very grateful to KDE Dance, DanceEast and EACH."
Katie Dale-Everett, Artistic Director of KDE Dance, said: "Working with this family and the EACH team was a very special experience. We loved getting to know the participants and witnessing them share moments of joy together, while also being able to offer the group new creative and technical skills."
EACH Play Specialist Hailey Allen added: "The day was designed not only as a performance experience but as an opportunity for shared creativity, play and connection. The technology was incredibly effective, and I know the family enjoyed doing something special and unique together."
The bigger picture: The workshop was KDE Dance's first bereavement day offering. Following its success, Dale-Everett said she hopes to offer similar sessions to more bereavement support services in the future.
The bottom line: For one Ipswich family, an afternoon of dance and technology became a chance to grieve together through joy, connection and shared memory.
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