What is The Emily Ricca Project, and how did it come to be?
In a world that moves too fast, I am a professional ballerina who takes time to bring human connection through dance and dialogue into senior living communities nationwide.
When I bring professional ballet, including excerpts like Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote to name a few, into these intimate, shared spaces, the distance between performer and audience dissolves. Each performance becomes a beautiful conversation. With audience participation, including dancing, gentle movement, breath work, and dialogue, we remember the art of human connection that moves us all.
The seed of The Emily Ricca Project was planted about 10 years ago when I was invited to perform a few ballet excerpts for a senior living community in the Miami, Florida area. The response from the residents was unforgettable.
Soon afterward, I had the privilege of dancing for my grandmother in a Missouri nursing home. The love, joy, and connection that filled the room convinced me this work should be shared with more people. Over the past several years, I’ve reached thousands of residents, including many living with dementia, as I’ve been invited into hundreds of senior living communities across the United States.
Everywhere, the experience is the same: Elders engaging with art not as spectators, but as participants, through memory, laughter, and bonding conversations.
Ballerina Emily Ricca tours senior living communities throughout the US bringing a live dance performance and participatory activities to older audiences with and without memory loss.
Professional ballerina Emily Ricca toured from Washington DC to Springfield, Missouri in the summer 2026, bringing live dance, movement, and moments of meaningful connection to along the way.
What initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
What first inspired me to bring my dance program into senior living communities—and eventually to focus more intentionally on residents living with dementia—was the profound impact I witnessed firsthand. Moments of joy, recognition, and engagement remind me how powerful the arts can be.
After my performances, activity directors often shared that many residents living with dementia typically remained engaged for only a few minutes at a time. Yet during my presentations, they stayed attentive and present. That response deeply moved me; it felt like a calling to continue this work. To give these elders living with dementia an hour of freedom and joy from their disease seems like such an extraordinary gift, and that’s what I’ve seen. These seniors come alive with the power of music and dance.
Knowing these experiences bring comfort, inspiration, and genuine connection to residents living with dementia continues to motivate me and reinforces that this work truly makes a difference.
How has working on dementia-related art changed you?
Working with people living with dementia has transformed both my outlook on aging and my understanding of the power of the arts.
Music has an incredible ability to awaken memories, emotions, and moments of recognition. When dance is combined with music, gentle movement, conversation, and community, I’ve witnessed something truly special. I’ve seen residents who seemed disconnected become engaged, joyful, and present in the moment. Those experiences have deeply influenced my artistry.
This work has made me a more compassionate, adaptable, and purposeful artist. Bringing professional ballet into senior living communities—places where many people never expect to experience live dance—has become one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
It reminds me that art isn’t only meant for the stage; art has the power to comfort, connect, and bring hope wherever people are.
How has the work been received?
The response has been incredibly meaningful. Activity directors and caregivers across the country have shared that residents living with dementia stayed attentive through my entire program. I often see residents smiling, asking questions, and sharing memories. Those moments reaffirm why this work matters.
My hope is always to bring joy, inspiration, dignity, and meaningful human connection to senior living communities through the beauty of live dance, music, and conversation.
This work is dedicated to: The many people who have touched my life—including family members who are no longer with us—and by the residents, caregivers, staff, and families I have met along this journey. Their love, resilience, and compassion continue to inspire me. I’ve been blessed to see how this work brings joy not only to people living with dementia, but also to those who care for and love them. In many ways, this project is a tribute to all of them.
The Dementia Arts Spotlight promotes visual and performing artists who are grappling with dementia through original work or innovative arts programs. The Spotlight—in a Q&A format where artists describe the details and significance of their work or program—connects each artist to the Dementia Spring community. Find examples of prior Dementia Arts Spotlights here. Know of an artist whose work should be Spotlighted? Send them this link!
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