CHSLD visits: a space for expressive potential to emerge
Mouvement de passage is an artistic project that seeks to inspire wonder and joy in care settings by bringing choreography and music directly into the CHSLD. It offers a sensitive and meaningful way for residents to connect to their creativity, inviting them to rediscover and reengage with their daily lives.
During visits from Mouvement de passage, dancers and a musician move through the corridors, rooms and common areas to meet with residents, especially those experiencing a loss of autonomy or at the end of life, who may find it more difficult to participate in the centre’s regular activities.
The artists connect with the residents through movement, dance, touch, music, song, presence and play. Depending on the individual, it could be a small dance with the eyes or hands, or more elaborate choreography. On every visit, we create spontaneous dance guided by the residents themselves. The artists fully immerse themselves in the residents’ world and improvise based on their current state, offering space for their expressive potential to emerge. They draw inspiration from the microcosm of the CHSLD, including the comings and goings of the care staff, the presence of family members, ambient sounds and smells, and the resident’s cognitive state and mood. Tears, shouts and laughter are all part of the experience. The visits require an active, engaged and compassionate presence.
Visits are done as a duo with one dancer and one musician, or as a trio with two dancers and a musician.
The artists work independently, and do not require that a CHSLD staff member be present for the entire time they are there.
The artists engage with around 40 residents per visit on average. This number can vary, as the quality of the encounters is prioritized over quantity.
Duration of visit: 1.5 hours
Team expertise
With a master’s degree in dance from the Université du Québec à Montréal focused on artistic creation in care settings, founder Ariane Boulet has led hundreds of dance visits across five regions of Quebec, training dozens of artists in her approach founded in attentive listening, respect and non-verbal connection. She also gives talks and workshops, teaching care staff, families and friends new ways to connect with CHSLD residents. Ariane Boulet also holds a specialized graduate diploma (DESS) in spirituality and health from Université de Montréal, where she received her training in secular spiritual care, end-of-life care and grief support.
The artists involved in the Mouvement de passage project and mediation workshops are trained performing arts professionals. They’ve made their mark on Quebec’s dance and music scenes—performing with renowned companies like Marie Chouinard, Bouge de là and Margie Gillis—as well as on international stages. Since Mouvement de passage was founded in 2014, the artists involved have refined their creative and relational approach to forge meaningful connections with the CHSLD residents, grounded in an ethical understanding of the residents’ vulnerability.
Photos | Emily Gan
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Click HERE to learn more about our project’s positive impacts on CHSLD residents and their loved ones, care staff and the arts community.
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Click HERE to learn more about our partnership with McGill University to study how dance and music empower individuals living with neurocognitive disorders to meaningfully connect with the people in their lives.
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Click HERE to read stories and reflections on our practice from our project’s artists.
