Spiltmilk Dance Bring Magical ‘Wonderland’ Festive Joy to Care Home Residents Across Central England
In a heartwarming display of festive cheer, professional dancers from Sheffield-based Spiltmilk Dance brought their magical Christmas production, Wonderland, directly to residents in care homes across central England, spreading joy to those who are unable to venture out during the holiday season.
The company toured the intimate and interactive show to 23 care venues spanning Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire, transforming everyday spaces into winter wonderlands filled with live music, extravagant costumes, and playful audience participation.
Spiltmilk Dance, known for injecting sunshine into contemporary dance, highlights a critical shortage of high-quality arts experiences in older adult care settings. By collaborating closely with residents and staff during development, they crafted Wonderland to be deeply engaging and inclusive, particularly for those living with dementia.
Departing from traditional nostalgia-heavy entertainment, the show invites residents to actively join in, throwing snowballs, singing along to festive tunes, and even dancing alongside the performers, creating moments of pure delight and connection that linger long after the show ends.
Sarah Boulter, Spiltmilk co-director said, “It can be impossible for some people to get out to see a Christmas show – so we thought we would bring the show to them.
“There is a real gap of excellent high-quality arts entertainment in older adult care settings. We wanted to bring something to care homes and hospitals that would have a real impact. Wonderland has the very same professional production values as a show you would see in an established venue. We wanted to put on these shows in places where people are unable to visit a theatre or arts venue.”
Spiltmilk worked with Age UK to bring two shows to wellbeing centres in Sheffield in the week leading to Christmas.
A spokesperson for Age UK Sheffield said, “We were delighted partner with Spiltmilk Dance to bring joyful, interactive performances to older people in our community. Our Dementia Wellbeing Centres offer a warm, supportive space for older people living with memory loss or dementia to meet new friends, regain a sense of connection, and take part in meaningful, engaging activities.
“This collaboration is especially valuable during the Christmas period, when people living with dementia, along with their families and carers, often need additional support, companionship, and uplifting experiences.”
For nearly two decades, Spiltmilk Dance has been injecting joy and relevance into contemporary dance, led by Co-Directors Sarah Boulter and Adele Wragg alongside a dynamic team of artists and specialists. The Sheffield-based company has built a vibrant legacy of dancing with people of all ages, travelling across the country to connect communities through movement, storytelling, and humour.
With an inviting, welcoming, and deeply inclusive approach, Spiltmilk creates experiences that celebrate shared human connections and make dance accessible and delightful for everyone. Discover more about their inspiring work and upcoming projects by visiting www.spiltmilkdance.co.uk.
Image credit Spiltmilk