South Asian dance residency brings movement, joy and cultural connection to NUH wards
Posted on: 26 May 2026
Fortnightly visits from Akadami South Asian Dance Company are transforming ward environments across NUH through accessible movement and live performance.
The challenge
Many patients across NUH experience long hospital stays, repeated treatments, or extended periods on wards, often leading to boredom, stress, anxiety, and social isolation.
There was also a recognised need to diversify arts provision within the hospital to better reflect and represent the cultural backgrounds of patients and staff, while introducing more accessible and engaging ways to support wellbeing and gentle movement for long-stay patients.
What the grant funded
Funding enables professional dance artists to bring live performance directly to bedside settings
Akadami South Asian Dance Company has been commissioned to deliver fortnightly residencies across NUH wards, including HCOP and children’s services.
Live performances directly to bedside settings
Gentle, inclusive movement activities designed to be accessible for patients at all levels of mobility.
Measurable outcomes
The dance residency as resulted in...
Regular fortnightly dance residencies delivered on NUH wards
Increased patient, staff and visitor engagement with live arts in clinical settings
Opportunities for gentle, adapted movement supporting wellbeing and deconditioning prevention
Improved patient experience through reduced boredom, stress and anxiety
Delivery of culturally diverse arts programming reflecting NUH communities
Positive feedback from patients, families and staff across participating wards
Staff reflections...
Staff have reported strong positive responses from both patients and colleagues following the dance sessions, noting the immediate impact on mood and engagement on the wards.
Play specialists highlighted how well the company interacts with patients and how valuable it is to see alternative, uplifting activity in the hospital environment. Physiotherapy staff have also observed patients engaging in movement in ways they might not usually attempt, describing the sessions as motivating and joyful.
Kirsty Wilford, Play Specialist said: ‘All areas that you visited spoke highly of how great it was to see something else in hospital and how well the company interacted with the patients that they met. So thanks for the visit, we look forward to more."
What patients and loved ones say...
Patients and families have described the performances as uplifting, unexpected, and deeply appreciated during difficult or repetitive hospital stays.
Parents noted how meaningful it was to see loved ones engaging with music and dance again, especially when illness had limited their opportunities for enjoyment.
One patient described the sessions as a welcome break from the monotony of hospital life, saying it significantly lifted their day and brought joy into the ward environment.
Dancing into Spring at NUH
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) is welcoming a new resident dance company Akadami, as part of Arts at NUH, funded by Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
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