Kathryn's Thanksgiving Dance

While attending an Alzheimer's support group a couple of months ago, we met Kathleen Haynes. She had been invited by the Association's social worker, Sylvia Brunisholz, to talk with the group's members about the importance of exercise and relaxation techniques in preserving the health of care partners. At the end of her presentation, she announced she had received money from a grant to Art Access to help Alzheimer's Disease recipients express their emotions and tell their life stories through dance. She asked for volunteers to participate in the program. Kathryn's arm shot up before the last reverberations from Kathleen's lip's had ceased and the offer had been made. I wondered what we were getting ourselves into. Now I know. The initial phases of the program concluded last night. But I get ahead of myself.

Kathleen contacted us a week or so after the meeting. She came to our home and described what the program was trying to do. She would be the producer and director of videotaping sessions largely designed by the recipient to tell some things about their lives. Kathleen thought our stories of our children, at least some of them, cavorting to wild music and some of Kathryn's early dance experiences would be great to depict. She also was greatly interested in our love of ballroom dancing and thought that should be part of the DVD to be produced as well.

The good fortunes of fate brought the whole family together on the night of November 12. Adam and his brood, Peter and his, as well as the Lewis's and the Preslars, minus Troy, were there. Kathleen and her video man showed up early to plan the events. There was to be a scene about our children dancing to some of Kathryn's favorite dance music, Carmina Burana. There was to be another scene with the grandchildren dancing with Kathryn to the wild and playful "Saber Dance." So we gathered props such as hula hoop rings, scarves, ribbons and the like. There was a little discussion of how each scene would be conducted. Kathryn was to lead each one.

And so the family began showing up at 5:00 pm. Did I mention that we had decided to also celebrate our family Thanksgiving on this evening since we were all going to be together? So, to the enticing, wafting odors of pressure cooking turkey (it's delicious), baking turkey stuffing, baking squash from freshly harvested squash globes, salads and unbelievable desserts, we began the dance.

The first portrayal was Saber Dance, which two of our kids, at least, performed almost daily for five or six years, or so it seemed. There was a definite reluctance on the part of Smith to get involved. But as soon as his buddy, Chase, donned his head ribbon, and started brandishing his plastic light saber, the engagement was joined with enthusiasm and all jumped in. Even though hardly any effort had been devoted to practice, okay none, the music and Kathryn's leadership prodded all the grandchildren to get deeply involved, even the toddlers. All lunged and swayed, jumped and knelt, smiled and laughed as the troupe circled our dining room, first to the right and then the left. It was entrancing.

Phase 2 of the recording session conscripted everyone in the family. Once again, all donned head scarves or some other unique form of apparel. Kathleen added hula hoops to the portrayal and suggested a few moves to Kathryn. Let the recording begin, mouthed Kathryn. And so we did. Kathryn's invented lunges in time and with the fervor of the tempo got us all following her in Carmina Burana, K's favorite dance music, I think. We used the hula hoops according to Kathryn's leadership to signify family unity and hope. When it was over, we were smiling, exercised and ready to finish the preparations for the Thanksgiving feast.

The dinner was a delightful bedlam. Good food, good company. Good love and togetherness, since Troy was able to join us as well. Everyone departed with loads of leftover and Kathryn and I did the final cleanup, probably in a stupor. We were tired and fell limply into bed.

But the dance was not over. The final segment was planned for Saturday evening, Nov 20th at our dancing haunt, the Murray Arts Center. Kathryn and I showed up there to participate in the lesson being taught that night, the Tango. Kathleen, Maiken, and their partners showed up at about 8:30 pm to videotape us.. We set up the equipment in the ancillary ball room where the lessons are usually taught but where we could hear the music of Kevin Auernig, one of our favorites. When Kevin started, the videotaping began and we danced for maybe 30 or 40 minutes. Swing, Cha-Cha, Waltz, Bolero and fox trot. Sometime the lights were dim, other times they were bright, but we took no notice. It was mesmerizing, to say the least. Of course, people who had come to the MAC to dance and saw us being videoed must have felt they were witnessing the self indulgent machinations of Utah's two biggest egos.

We still owe Kathleen some information to finish the DVD and then she will get the final version to us. It will be a great thing to look back on and be reminded of Kathryn's Thanksgiving Dance.