12 minute read
Dance for Parkinson's
Registered teachers Johanna Hadley and Kezia Mitchell explain how they use dance as an aid for people with Parkinson’s.
Johanna Hadley Registered ISTD teacher
In 2017, I received an enquiry for my Silver Swans® ballet classes for the over 55s. As I spoke with the contact they explained that they had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and wondered if it would be possible to still join the classes. I confirmed to them my belief that dance is inclusive and that they would be most welcome. Although Parkinson’s was a condition I was aware of, it wasn’t something of which I had specialised knowledge and so I decided to research it further.
It was at this moment that I discovered the world of dance for Parkinson’s. Reading research articles, watching videos, hearing participant stories, it was incredible to discover the profound impact these classes were having.
I completed my training in ‘Dance for Parkinson’s’ in 2019 and was fortunate to receive this from industry-leading tutors from English National Ballet, People Dancing, Cardiff Metropolitan University, NDCWales and Parkinson’s Dance Science.
In early 2021, I was invited to work as Associate Artist for People Dancing in their Live Well & Dance – with Parkinson’s online programme, under the directorship of Kiki Gale MBE. This is the pilot programme for a wider scheme in Birmingham, Bristol, Carlisle, Leicester and Newcastle. The programme is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. To ensure that participants can access these online classes for free, further funding was provided by the Parkinson’s UK support group in Trafford. The patron of Live Well & Dance – with Parkinson’s is British writer, script editor, producer and actor, Paul Mayhew-Archer, who himself was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011.
Our classes
In these online classes, I work alongside Lead Artist, Helen Gould, in a class that incorporates many different styles of dance. The music is often selected in response to the participants’ interests. Through discussion with the participants, we reached the theme of ‘Music through the Decades’; we’ve since enjoyed dancing to artists including Mick Jagger and Enya. The inclusion of classical repertoire from ballets such as Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and La Fille Mal Gardée remains a favourite, however.
Dance for Parkinson’s classes are open and inclusive. We have participants of all genders in early to advanced stages of Parkinson’s. Their carers often join in, giving respite from their role and an enjoyable, shared activity.
To cater to all participants, my colleague Helen teaches the standing version of each exercise while I perform a seated alternative. As someone who trained via the traditional dance student route, learning to teach chair-based classes was completely new to me. It may not be immediately obvious how a step like a plié can be translated into a chair-based exercise, but it is in the core understanding of the plié, meaning ‘to bend,’ that the chair variation can be found: a gentle bending and rolling down of the spine, helping participants with their spine mobility. In this way, almost all of the basic components of a dance class can be translated into a chair-based version.
In class with Kezia Mitchell
Falls are a significant risk in Parkinson’s, which it has been challenging to mitigate in online classes. We are fortunate to have a team overseeing the classes while Helen and I are teaching. They can immediately initiate our protocol for falls, should one occur.
The benefits of Dance for Parkinson’s classes
My training in Dance for Parkinson’s emphasised that each dance style can bring its own benefits for someone living with Parkinson’s, whether that’s the expressive hand gestures from Bharatanatyam, the varied movements of the feet from tap dancing or the port de bras from ballet. This also broadens the classes’ appeal because no one is put off by the focus on a particular dance style.
There is a notable social benefit for the Dance for Parkinson’s online classes, particularly during the recent lockdown periods. The Live Well & Dance – with Parkinson’s online classes have been accessed by people who have not participated in Dance for Parkinson’s before – access is no longer limited to those with a class nearby.
The physical and mental benefits of the classes are clear to see. People with difficulties moving and completing day-to-day tasks suddenly, when the exercise begins and music plays, start to move freely and confidently. Some participants are even given temporary relief from certain symptoms. It is inspiring to see the creativity and self-expression that is developed in the classes and, ultimately, to witness the power of dance. Dancers and dance teachers are aware of the positive effect dance has on people of all ages. These benefits are just as relevant to people living with Parkinson’s. Areas such as the development of postural stability, co-ordination and balance are also integral parts of a Dance for Parkinson’s class. The mental health benefits are important, too. The Parkinson’s Foundation estimate that at least 50 percent of those diagnosed will experience depression and up to 40 percent an anxiety disorder. For this reason, we use breakout rooms at the end of class to allow social interaction between participants.
For anyone wishing to teach ‘Dance for Parkinson’s’, it is critical that you undertake specialised, professional training. Parkinson’s is a nuanced condition and receiving the proper training for it will be repaid by the support you are able to give to participants in your classes. The work is deeply rewarding for both teacher and participant, seeing the benefits that dance can bring.
Necessary qualifications
Johanna Hadley teaches at her family-run dance school, Janet Lomas School of Dancing in Bury, Lancashire. She teaches children aged 4–18 years from beginner to advanced levels and ballet for the over 55s. Johanna holds her Licentiate in Imperial Classical Ballet, ISTD DDE in Tap and Modern Theatre, Level 3 Progressing Ballet Technique, Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD) and is a Silver Swans® licensee.
Kezia Mitchell (Jolly) Principal of the Vacani and Marylebone ballet schools
In class with Kezia Mitchell
Six years ago, I had a call from a lady who wanted to join my adult ballet class as she had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and had read that dance could help to relieve the symptoms. At this stage, her symptoms were mild and she really enjoyed her weekly ballet class with me. Of course, I have always believed that dance can benefit so many people in so many ways; from getting fit and active to socialising and meeting new people, so I was keen to find out more about how dance specifically could help people with Parkinson’s.
I felt it was very important to get some professional training. In 2016 I went to De Montford University in Leicester to attend the ‘Dance for Parkinson’s’ course and study how dance could make a difference to those with Parkinson’s. I was lucky enough to be taught by David Leventhal, one of the founding teachers for Dance for Parkinson’s which was originally founded as collaboration between the Mark Morris Dance Company and Brooklyn Parkinson’s Group. After completing the course, I felt truly inspired and knew I could do more to make a difference in the lives of people with Parkinson’s, both physically and mentally.
I contacted Parkinson’s UK, who put me in touch with my local area development manager. We quickly established some classes in Bedfordshire, and I had regular meetings with the Parkinson’s nurses alongside delivering presentations at conferences with Parkinson’s UK about Dance for Parkinson’s. I have not looked back since. Last year, I took on the classes in partnership with BEEE Creative after obtaining National Lottery funding, with plans to develop and grow the area we cover over the next few years.
There has been a lot of research into how dance specifically can help with Parkinson’s. Universities around the world including Roehampton University in England and the English National Ballet have been part of the research groups. The Dance for Parkinson’s programme is fundamentally built on the basis that professionally trained dancers are experts in movement, and as dancers, we know and understand about stretching and strengthening muscles, balance, coordination and rhythm. We know that there are benefits for the participants mental health in learning a new skill; particularly as depression and anxiety are common symptoms of Parkinson’s. We also know that dance helps to develop our senses, especially hearing and sight. We help participants to use fine motor skills with some of the smaller movements in their hands and fingers, as well as cognitive skills such as learning, remembering and concentrating.
Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological condition, which means there is no cure, and there is a vast and varied range of symptoms. Dance can really help with slowing down the symptoms by keeping the body and the brain active.
Balance and co-ordination
Dance requires balance and co-ordination, which can help participants feel more confident in their own mobility. A lot of people may have limited mobility, but I can give them confidence to work within the best of their own ability. If they feel unsteady on their feet, some of our dance movements, including sways and standing on one leg, develop balance and strength which can help them feel more confident and able in their day to day living.
Co-ordination also helps us change positions or directions quickly and move different muscle groups at the same time, allowing us to do two things at once. I teach a lot of dance movements to help develop co-ordination, using movements that involve the opposite arms and legs or moving the limbs at different times. This is also good for cognitive skills as well as everyday movements.
Muscle Strength
We need a lot of strength in dance to be able to execute exercises correctly and to try and avoid injury. I use a lot of leg lifting exercises, as well as working the metatarsal muscles in the feet to help build muscle strength, particularly in the quads, and gastrocnemius muscles which can diminish when there is limited movement and mobility.
Flexibility
Dance is great for improving flexibility. I teach stretching exercises for lengthening muscles, as quite often, Parkinson’s sufferers movements become small, which can mean muscles contract and tighten. I also try and improve posture as a lot of Parkinson’s suffers can stoop (which can also contribute to falls).
Mental health and well-being
Mental health and well-being is a very important part of improving the quality of our participants lives. Often as well as the physical difficulties, isolation and depression can be symptoms of Parkinson’s, too.
Dance is such a social activity, where you can meet other people, but also the joy of dancing and working together gives a sense of teamwork, friendship and camaraderie. Dance is a great way of expressing yourself without speaking. Some of our participants symptoms have progressed so they can no longer speak or find it difficult to be heard, so being able to find a new way of expressing themselves through dance gives a great sense of freedom that sometimes their bodies don’t allow.
Creativity
I use a whole range of music for our groups to dance to, from Dean Martin, to classical ballet music or more modern music like Christine and the Queens. Everyone loves the mixture of music and movements we learn. Everyone supports each other, and we laugh and sometimes cry together, as the music can be very emotive.
Dance is a creative release and is something most of our participants may have had no previous experience of before. Everybody embraces this and leave the class without any preconceptions they may have built up before joining us. They enjoy the liberation the movement and music give them for that an hour.
Setting up your own class
It can be challenging to set up and establish classes and you will need to be committed and determined. I thoroughly enjoy teaching dance to people with Parkinson’s, it has been great fun, interesting, uplifting and rewarding. If it something you are interested in, I would recommend attending the training course as a starting point and following training. I would also recommend contacting your local Parkinson’s UK group before setting out on your own.
Necessary qualifications
I am a fully qualified and registered teacher with the ISTD having gained my Licentiate in Cecchetti ballet and my DDE in Imperial ballet, Modern dance and National dance. I also have a First Class BA Hons Degree in Dance. I am the Principal and owner of my own dance schools in London and Bedfordshire, specialising in ballet and have been teaching for over 20 years.
I have had lots of successes with children being accepted into various associate programmes and vocational schools but I have always believed that dance should be available and accessible for everyone and have welcomed many diverse dancers into my school over the years.
