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In our experience through ClowNexus, people with dementia and autistic children can both enjoy art because it engages their senses, lets them express themselves without words, gives them a sense of structure and freedom, and helps them remember and share emotions. Art is a way for us all to connect and communicate.

Intention: creating familiarity, creating group connection.

We begin our interaction from the room’s entrance by saying hello and calling everyone by their name. 

The act of speaking your own name serves as  an invitation for connection. 

Playing with the sounds of saying hello awakens interest and creates joy. We make it fun by playing with different ways of saying hello and paying attention to how people react.

As the game progresses, we add more physical movements and play with the distance between us and the audience, getting closer or moving farther away based on their reactions. 

It’s important to know everyone’s names for this to work. 

We usually begin with waving hands, doing it slowly and clearly to communicate our message. The game evolves based on the audience’s response – if they react positively, we make it more exciting, and if there’s a negative reaction, we tone it down.

Intention: connecting, play, making the audience move. 

The initial step involves being fully present and establishing a connection with the breath. Then, the clown begins by mirroring one of the resident’s movements. 

As the game progresses and the concept becomes clearer, the residents can suggest new movements to mirror or, alternatively, mirror the actions of the clown’s . 

As the connection deepens, the activity becomes a source of increasing joy through the mutual mirroring of movements.

Mirroring is a sensitive activity, initially utilised to establish connections, with playful elements introduced later on. 

It requires a substantial amount of time and a mindful approach to truly hear and see the resident’s reactions.

Intention: connecting, breaking the space.

Everyone gathers around the parachute, and the gentle movements of this object capture their attention and arouse curiosity. 

Clowns invite the audience to engage with it, either by tossing soft objects onto it or simply enjoying the spectacle. We carefully observe their reactions to gradually build up the play. 

In the next phase, we introduce a table beneath the parachute, and one clown lies on it. The movements of both the clown and the soft objects beneath the parachute create a simulation of flying. The audience contributes by imparting their own impulses to the object. 

The feeling of flying can be quite surprising. Keep focusing on how the residents react while making sure they stay physically safe.

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