Happy Feet, Healing Hands! (HFH2) is an inclusive arts outreach initiative by Maya Dance Theatre designed to bring the joy of movement and cultural connection to underserved communities — especially seniors and persons with disabilities — across Singapore. Using chair-based dance and movement inspired by traditional Indian, Chinese, and Malay forms, the programme promotes wellbeing, cultural appreciation, and social interaction.
Led by active seniors and dancers with disabilities from our Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC), HFH2 is an empowering platform where participants not only receive but also contribute — becoming co-facilitators, movement creators, and cultural ambassadors. Through this meaningful exchange, we aim to create a more inclusive, active, and culturally rich community.
Through Happy Feet, Happy Hands, we connected with a total of 300 seniors from a number of senior homes, activity centres and hospice.
Programme Objectives
- Bring the arts to underserved seniors and persons with disabilities
- Promote active ageing through guided, chair-based cultural dance sessions
- Foster intercultural understanding via experiential learning of Indian, Chinese, and Malay traditional movements
- Encourage intergenerational and inclusive collaboration, led by both active seniors and DADC dancers
- Empower seniors as movement ambassadors and co-creators in the community
- Promote wellbeing and social engagement to support mental and emotional health
- Dispel stereotypes of ageing and disability through storytelling and public outreach
- Build sustainable access via new movement video episodes and online resources
Chair-Based Movement Programme – Featured in Happy Feet, Healing Hands! (HFH2)
As part of Happy Feet, Healing Hands! (HFH2), Maya Dance Theatre presents a specially curated chair-based movement programme designed to support the physical, emotional, and social well-being of seniors. Supported by the National Arts Council’s stART Fund, the programme brings movement and connection to care homes, senior centres, and day facilities across Singapore.
The exercises are inspired by daily living activities and adapted from traditional dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Malay, and Chinese classical dance.
🧺 For example:
- Folding clothes becomes a slow, controlled upper-body stretch to improve shoulder mobility.
- Waving to a neighbour is used to enhance arm coordination and social engagement.
- Reaching for items on a shelf is mirrored in overhead arm extensions to build flexibility and strength.
- Scooping rice or stirring a pot becomes a rhythmic circular hand movement to activate fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
These familiar actions, transformed into expressive movement, help:
✅ Promote muscle flexibility and joint health
✅ Enhance cognitive recall and coordination
✅ Encourage independence and confidence in everyday tasks
✅ Support social bonding and emotional expression
Led by trained senior volunteers and DADC dancers, these sessions foster an inclusive environment where seniors can move, connect, and share joyfully.
As part of our commitment to promoting active ageing and well-being through the arts, we are excited to share two short videos from the Happy Feet, Healing Hands! (HFH2) chair-based movement programme.
These videos feature simple, culturally inspired exercises designed for seniors and adapted from daily living activities such as reaching, waving, and gentle arm rotations.
Each video aims to:
✅ Encourage gentle physical activity
✅ Stimulate memory and coordination
✅ Support emotional and social engagement
We invite seniors, caregivers, and community partners to use these videos as part of daily routines to support healthy ageing.
📺 Watch the videos below and try them at home or with your group!
Exercise 01
Exercise 2