A Co Fermanagh singer songwriter has released a new single after being inspired by a viral video.
Louis McTeggart was moved to write his song "I Used To Dance" after seeing the story of Marta Gonzales, an ex-ballerina living with cognitive impairment who was filmed dancing along to Swan Lake in a care home in Spain in 2019.
The video moved the Enniskillen native to tears, and he wrote the song in a matter of minutes as a tribute to the woman.
Louis works with music charity Live Music Now, which delivers concerts and performances for those living with alzheimers and dementia.
Speaking to MyFermanagh, the now Derry-based singer said he found it inspiring as he works with a lot of people in care homes.
Louis said: “The thing for me is was that it was very inspiring because I do a lot of work in care homes as well.
“I’ve seen that reaction up close, so I think that compelled me to write the song.
“She was an ex-ballerina who had lived her life and then went to a care home, and this was her remembering the music.
“So I wrote the song from the point of view of her remembering her life.
“A lot of people forget with people in care homes is that they have lived a life, and it’s that bittersweet looking back thing that I wanted to get across.”
Louis opened up on his work with Live Music Now, which he says is a great way of helping vulnerable people come out of their shell.
He explained: “I’ve been working with them a long time now and they go into care homes and day centres, and we put on performances and workshops with elderly patients.
“Generally it’s people with Alzheimers or learning difficulties or things like that.
“It’s a great way of communicating with people and getting them to come out of their shell a wee bit.”
Louis’ single ‘I Used To Dance’ is available to download and can be streamed on YouTube here.
