Have you ever been going about your day, and then suddenly a song from your past comes on? And without notice, you are flooded with memories you’ve long forgotten?
You aren’t alone. Music is incredibly emotional, and for one former ballerina with Alzheimer’s, it evoked the choreography she once performed.
Marta Cinta González once held the coveted title of the prima ballerina.
According to an article on beingpatient.com, Marta’s past is a mystery that ballet scholars are trying to uncover—but whether a timeline of her life is accessible or not doesn’t take away from this emotional video.
As she hears ‘Swan Lake,’ Marta starts to move her arms; the choreography she once performed on a stage for an audience is now constricted to a wheelchair. She is elegant as she lifts her arms and arches them through the air.
Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’ is one of the most famous ballets.
For many, seeing it performed is an emotional experience. Can you imagine what a professional ballet dancer must feel while dancing for thousands after countless hours of practice? Watching Marta with headphones over her ears, you can tell the music is transporting her back to center stage.
It’s almost as if her body can’t help but perform and she comes alive as the music is turned up. After, she says, “It makes me emotional.”
The man with Marta replies, “That is normal! My darling. How could it not make you emotional?”
And he is right; you can’t help but feel for her. Seeing her remembering herself, many years younger, in her pointe shoes pulls at the heartstrings of thousands of people.
In the comment section of the video, many people exclaimed how emotional the video is. One person wrote:
“So touching to see forgotten grace and beautiful emerge from within.”
We could not have said it better ourselves!
Marta is a reminder for many that people with Alzheimer’s are still people that have lived long and complicated lives.
The people at Música Para Despertar, a Spanish organization translating to Music to Wake, understand music’s power.
Marta Cinta González participated in Music to Wake, and this video of her has helped bring awareness to millions of people worldwide. Music to Wake doesn’t only work with patients, but they help train others to bring music therapy into more people’s lives.
The organization offers face-to-face training and online training, allowing people in any country to learn about their tools and philosophy and use it to help people with Alzheimer’s.
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. It is a disease that troubles many families that have to watch their loved ones forget. But with music therapy, there is a chance for people with the disease to remember.
Marta passed away not long after the video went viral, but although she is gone, she has left a beautiful mark on this world.
She has reminded people that individuals living with Alzheimer’s can remember and feel happy if given the right tools to help. It’s truly amazing how powerful music is. It can cross language barriers and bring people together. For Marta Cinta González, music gave her one more opportunity to dance!
To see her moving performance, be sure to watch the video below:
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