Yiyi Yu has more than eight years of experience in the performing arts in Hong Kong and mainland China. Yiyi has mainly focused on developing cross-disciplinary international initiatives  encompassing the areas of classical music, theatre and dance. Yiyi currently works at Poly Theatre Group.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Dancing with Dementia

The project was an arts therapy program which physically, mentally and socially supported elders living with cognitive disorders in the communities of Beijing and Shanghai. The first phase of the project involved recruiting 16 specialists in dance and music therapy as well as community workers who volunteered to help implement the project. They received three days of preliminary professional training to prepare them for their roles.

The main phase of the project involved providing support to elders and their caregivers and families through five workshops focused on dance therapy and how to support elders living with dementia. In the post-workshop assessment, the majority of the participants used words like “happy” “relaxed” and “grateful” to describe how they were feeling. One caregiver who attended the workshop said, "This is a rare moment of respite for me, an hour where I can be myself and focus on myself."

"My mother has just been diagnosed with dementia. I feel that it is very difficult for a family member to face dementia... I came to participate in the training...It’s very rewarding, and I hope it can not only help my mother, but also other elderly people with dementia" - Project Volunteer

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Yiyi participated in the IVLP Project Performing Arts and Cultural Centers in the United States, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education, in partnership with Global Minnesota, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, WorldOrlando, WorldBoston, Global Ties Kalamazoo and the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City.

Yiyi's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "The [participants] I built connections with and the knowledge shared became a great source of inspiration to fuel my idea."

U.S. Communities Visited

Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Boston, MA; Kalamazoo, MI; Minneapolis, MN; New York City, NY; Cleveland, OH

Country: China 

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