Dance for people living with Parkinson's

December 22, 2017

Dance can support people living with Parkinson's to develop confidence and strength, and provide the opportunity for creativity and self-expression, whist also temporarily relieving some participants of symptoms in everyday life.

"...I've identified about eight or ten words to describe what we’re doing: imagination, creativity, language, colour, music, rhythm. And I’ve not come across anything, anything in my diverse life, which combines all those things. The breadth and depth of what is going on downstairs [in the studio] is significant.”

“I feel released from the Parkinson’s, in more control of my body and with friends.”

Why dance?

There’s an increasing appetite for dance these days and the broad ways it benefits our health and wellbeing. This is felt by people of all ages and physical abilities. One group that now attaches particular value to taking part in dance is that of people living with Parkinson’s.

A growing body of evidence points to the real physical, mental and social benefits experienced by people living with Parkinson’s when they dance. For example, research into English National Ballet’s (ENB) dance and Parkinson’s programme, published in 2015 by Dr Sara Houston of Roehampton University, concluded that dance as a group activity can:

• Encourage feelings of inclusion and positive social interaction
• Promote a sense of community that is particularly meaningful, motivating and energising for people living with Parkinson’s
• Aid fluency of movement
• Help people with Parkinson’s communicate and express themselves.

https://www.communitydance.org.uk/developing-participation/dance-for-parkinsons