Dance in Healthcare
From 2013-2018, Keira Hart-Mendoza worked at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital through the Georgetown University Comprehensive Care Center Arts & Humanities Program. Her role as "Resident Movement Artist" allowed her to connect with various populations at the hospital.
Keira cared for caregivers by offering short and succinct "stretch breaks" which were a combination of breath work, meditation, active stretching, and postural alignment. These stretch breaks took her all over the hospital to care for those who tend to be over worked, over stressed, and need a moment of reconnection to their own body, mind, and spirit. She worked with nurses in Labor and Delivery, doctors in Radiology, administrative staff in Nurse Recruitment, doctors and nurses in Children's Oncology, staff in Neurology and Neuro Science, and much more!
From 2016-2018 Keira worked closely with the Neurology Department at Medstar Georgetown and offered patients in waiting room seated stretch breaks. She also presented at the "MS Patient Education Day" with over 400 people in attendance in both 2016 & 2017.
Through a partnership between the Neurology and the Arts & Humanities Program, Keira and a team of co-teachers and neurology staff developed a "Movement for MS" dance program. Keira continues her "Movement for MS" teaching as a resident teacher at Joy of Motion in Bethesda, MD. Keira has also studied with Mariska Breland to learn more about the cross section between Neurology and Pilates.
Keira cared for caregivers by offering short and succinct "stretch breaks" which were a combination of breath work, meditation, active stretching, and postural alignment. These stretch breaks took her all over the hospital to care for those who tend to be over worked, over stressed, and need a moment of reconnection to their own body, mind, and spirit. She worked with nurses in Labor and Delivery, doctors in Radiology, administrative staff in Nurse Recruitment, doctors and nurses in Children's Oncology, staff in Neurology and Neuro Science, and much more!
From 2016-2018 Keira worked closely with the Neurology Department at Medstar Georgetown and offered patients in waiting room seated stretch breaks. She also presented at the "MS Patient Education Day" with over 400 people in attendance in both 2016 & 2017.
Through a partnership between the Neurology and the Arts & Humanities Program, Keira and a team of co-teachers and neurology staff developed a "Movement for MS" dance program. Keira continues her "Movement for MS" teaching as a resident teacher at Joy of Motion in Bethesda, MD. Keira has also studied with Mariska Breland to learn more about the cross section between Neurology and Pilates.
In October 2017, Keira Hart-Mendoza and Alison Waldman co-directed a "Movement Chorus" that traveled throughout the hospital. The two-hour site specific event was witnessed by many patients and staff in and throughout the hospital. The dance was accompanied by the music of Anthony Hyatt. After the "Movement Chorus" concluded dance works were presented by Keira, UpRooted Dance, and Ilana Silverstein and Katie Harris Banks in the atrium space at the Lombardi Cancer Center. The works were meant to be enjoyed by all patients and staff!