Video shows powerful moment a former ballerina with Alzheimer’s remembers Swan Lake choreography

The former dancer suffering from memory loss sprang into action when played Tchaikovsky’s music

In a captivating moment captured on video, a former ballerina with dementia is played Tchaikovsky and immediately remembers the routine she performed years ago.

When played the composer’s evocative “Swan Lake”, Marta C. González,  who was a New York City Ballet prima ballerina, instantly remembers her routine from more than 50 years ago.

In the footage, González - who sadly passed away in 2019 as a result of her condition - is sitting in a wheelchair at her care home in Valencia and lights up after hearing the classical piece. 

She gestures for the music to be turned up and begins to perfectly move her arms to the music, as she did on stage in 1967. 

( Música para Despertar/YouTube)

The breathtaking video footage cuts to a performance of González dancing to Swan Lake half a century ago, and González moves in perfect unison with her younger self on stage, completely transfixed and mesmerised by the score.

The scenes, shared by Música Para Despertar, have captured the attention of social media users around the world.  “The most beautiful video you’ll see today!” said Felipe Tristan, associate conductor of Manhattan School of Music on Twitter.

“This has absolutely broken my heart this morning," wrote choreographer and theatre director, Arlene Phillips. "The glimpses of memory, the sadness for those with or a loved one living with Alzheimer’s. Support @alzheimerssoc and @AlzResearchUK,” she tweeted.

“If music and dance can restore or hold memory, how precious.”

The Alzheimer's Society has always maintained that music can “help to manage and reduce agitation, isolation, depression and anxiety in people with dementia”, and the society tweeted yesterday after viewing the spine-tingling clip.  

"This clip shows what an important tool music can be for people with dementia. So beautiful to see”. 

Health secretary Matt Hancock has previously said: “There is increasing evidence suggesting music can bring calm to people with dementia by reducing agitation and supporting those affected to cope better with symptoms.”

A national campaign, Music for Dementia, said music can “enliven, stimulate and enable people living with dementia to express themselves creatively through musical engagement”. 

It strives to make music available to every person suffering with dementia. The NHS estimates there are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK.