Bringing Joy & Wellness across Generations

Did you know that Scottish Ballet is a National Centre for Dance Health?

SB Health is the company’s health initiative which includes creative wellbeing experiences that have been bringing joy and wellness across generations in Scotland, the UK and internationally since 2013.

Dance Health is a strand within the SB Health initiative and includes three programmes for people living with neurological conditions: multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and dementia. The dance health team engages with communities in Scotland and beyond through its weekly classes, resources, online programmes and research studies.

As part of a strategic project delivered in collaboration with the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The ALLIANCE), we created a Health Partnerships Manager role to support increased access to Scottish Ballet’s neurological programmes across health and social care. Hannah McIlveen, a health professional with over two decades of experience, was appointed into the two-year role, joining Scottish Ballet’s dance health team in September 2022.

Working as Health Partnerships Manager continually challenged my beliefs about what is possible. I’ve had the opportunity to develop a variety of skills and be mentored by some truly inspirational people. It has been a pleasure to work in dance health. I am delighted to extend my knowledge and contribute to the future of dance health. 

Hannah McIlveen, Health Partnerships Manager

Hannah McIlveen, Career and Education

Hannah’s career began in a nursing home at the age of 16. She then undertook a degree in Psychology with Dance and went on to qualify as a Nurse (RMN), later obtaining a Masters Degree in Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP). In her NHS nursing work, Hannah has used dance and DMP  within rehabilitation for people experiencing psychosis and to support people with eating disorders.

In addition to her work as a Senior Nurse Therapist for the NHS, Hannah joined Scottish Ballet in 2019 as a freelance dance health support artist, later moving into a freelance consultant role where she provided information sessions for the dance health team on topics such as grief, resilience, mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.

Key Achievements

As Health Partnerships Manager, Hannah’s role was central to the SB Health project, enabling Scottish Ballet to raise awareness of its dance health activity; exploring potential to position the developing model as an offer within existing frameworks for ‘social prescribing’ and other health settings. Hannah was delighted with the outcome.

I’ve been thrilled with the outcomes of this project, delivered in partnership with The ALLIANCE. The most significant impact has been making meaningful connections established with staff at all levels—from ground-level workers to CEOs—and individuals living with neurological conditions. We’ve created multiple pathways for people to access these classes and expanded into various community and healthcare settings while exploring funding options to support the classes’ sustainability.

Recognition and Professional Growth: Queen’s Nurse

Throughout the project, Hannah was awarded the accolade of ‘Queens Nurse’ (The Queen’s Nursing Institute) after being selected to join their nine-month training programme. The programme sees exceptional community nurses develop professional skills and deliver outstanding care in the community.

The journey through the Queen’s Nurse programme has been deeply rewarding, much like my role with Scottish Ballet. It has allowed me to connect with inspirational and dedicated nurses across Scotland. Continuing my work as a senior nurse within NHS Lanarkshire while growing in my HPM role at Scottish Ballet has been incredibly fulfilling.

Expanding Access: The Remote and Rural Project

The programme inspired Hannah’s commitment to reducing barriers to Scottish Ballet’s MS and Parkinson’s classes, through piloting a ‘remote and rural’ offering, where groups of people joined classes online from a community or care setting across Scotland, supported by their local care professional or group leader.

The Remote and Rural project aligns perfectly with Scottish Ballet’s values of Inclusivity Innovation and Excellence, offering access routes, co-designed with experts and delivered by a skilled, passionate team. It aims to increase inclusion and reach people who haven’t previously connected with a ballet company for various reasons. By collaborating with local experts familiar with the dancers and the community spaces, we’ve formed subgroups that connect online with dancers at Scottish Ballet’s Headquarters in Glasgow, making these classes accessible throughout Scotland.

Next Steps for Hannah: Dance for MS PhD

In February, Hannah began an exciting new journey in dance health, commencing a Dance for MS PhD within a new Doctoral Training Centre led by Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and funded by MS Society. Scottish Ballet will collaborate with GCU and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland throughout Hannah’s PhD, one of eight studies exploring the impact of physical activity for people moderately to severely affected by MS.

Scottish Ballet’s Dance Health programme has been made possible by the generous support of Scottish Government, Baillie Gifford (Scottish Ballet’s Neurological Dance Health partner), trusts, foundations, Rose Fund, and our patrons