“Totsu-totsu Dance – like art, like care” is a long-running dance workshop and performance from Japan, initiated in 2009 by dancer-choreographer Osamu Jareo and non-profit arts organisation torindo. It brings together people with dementia, care home residents, staff, local communities, and dancers—exploring dance as a gentle, creative approach to dementia care.
The term totsu-totsu comes from Japanese words meaning “faltering” and “unsophisticated”, evoking movements that are slow and hesitant. This is not dance striving for perfection, but an art form rooted in everyday bodily communication. Improvisation is often used to stir physical memory and foster connection.
Since 2020, the project has expanded online, enabling artists and elder care centres in Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore to connect and share the same philosophy.
In January 2025, a performance in Osaka featured people with dementia and their care-partners. This August, a new iteration will take place in Penang, Malaysia, involving local artists, dancers, and elder care communities.
Blending dance, video, workshops, and talks, “Totsu-totsu Dance – like art, like care” offers an intimate glimpse into the world of dementia care—gently broadening the circle of empathy, creativity, and shared movement across borders.
Performers:
Osamu Jareo (Dancer / Japan)
Megumi Kamimura (Dancer / Japan)
Chloe Tan (Dancer / Malaysia)
Silver Yee (Dancer / Malaysia)
Kamal Sabran (Sound artist / Malaysia) and more