Tender Steps: Composing grief – the role of original music in addressing parental wellbeing after baby loss

This contribution explored the central role of music in Tender Steps, a dance film that raises awareness of babyloss, particularly in how the original score was created as an integral part of the choreographic process. The score, developed by Matt Vale in close collaboration with Alice Marshall, the film's choreographer and creator, serves as a sonic representation of her personal journey through grief following babyloss. The film was part of Babyloss Awareness Week; designed to evoke both emotional reflection and public awareness on this sensitive issue.

The focus of this contribution was to highlight the collaborative process behind the creation of the score, which was shaped by Alice's lived experience. The lullaby that forms a central part of the composition was crafted by listening to her personal reflections on loss, with each musical element symbolising different phases of grief. This original score became the backbone of Tender Steps, guiding the choreography and serving as an emotional anchor for both the dancers and the audience. It was delivered as an audio-visual journey for parents who have experienced loss, and for broader audiences to deepen their understanding of parental grief. This contribution adds to our understanding of music and parental wellbeing by demonstrating how music, particularly an original score deeply rooted in personal experience, can become a vital medium for processing grief. The composition in Tender Steps highlights how music, like movement, can create space for emotional healing, providing both solace and awareness in the context of babyloss.