The incredible response of a former ballerina with Alzheimer’s to the music that she used to dance to has been hailed as one of the most beautiful things that you will ever see.
A video of the moment life and vitality returns to the elderly woman has gone viral online. And it will almost certainly give you the tingles.
It shows Marta C. González – a former prima ballerina living with Alzheimer’s – hunched over in a wheel-chair as a young man plays Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake to her, through headlines. Her miraculous reaction is almost instantaneous.
Sadly, Marta – who was born in Madrid, lived in Cuba and danced in New York – died earlier this year, at the care home in Spain she had lived in since 2014. However, her memory lives on in a beautiful video that is, once again, going viral.
In 2019, she was visited by Música Para Despertar – Wake Up Music – the original author of the video. It shows Marta as her hand begins to sway in time to the famous aria – before she seemingly becomes overcome with emotion, and lowers head and hand.
The young man playing the music tenderly kisses Marta’s hand – and then Marta reawakens. Rolling back the years- and the cruel effects of Alzheimer’s – Marta begins to reenact the graceful arm movements she once used on stage.
The video is edited with clips of a dancer performing Swan Lake – but it is not actually Marta. The video first gained attention in 2020, when it was shared on X, formerly, Twitter by former Strictly judge Dame Arlene Phillips.
the choreographer and theatre director said: “This has absolutely broken my heart this morning.
“The glimpses of memory, the sadness for those with or a loved one living with Alzheimer’s. If music and dance can restore or hold memory – how precious.”
It is now finding a new audience after being shared by a political activism account on X. @CalltoActivism said: “Oh… my… GOD.
“This former star ballerina’s transformation at 27 seconds hit her as hard as it hit me. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life. ”
In response, @Hairball said: “For context, this woman is suffering late-stage Alzheimer’s, but her musical memory of her own performance is intact. They say music is the last thing an Alzheimer’s patient remembers, and that’s why it’s used by caregivers to stimulate memory.”
Another person, @juloof1, commented: “I worked in Dementia for over 25 yrs. I have seen people who cannot speak listen to a song and all of a sudden sing every single word of the song.
“As soon as the song stops they go back to being unable to talk. The power of music must trigger a part of the brain that can kick into action it’s amazing.”
