The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘I become a dancer not a person with Parkinson’s’
Popular classes come to Horsecross Perth this month
“When I go into the dance class, for that hour-and-a-half, I am a dancer, not a person with Parkinson’s.”
That summation of a dance class for people living with Parkinson’s disease was made as it was announced the initiative is arriving in Perth.
Horsecross Arts is one of the latest organisations in Scotland to offer the classes, which help combat the disease and lessen social isolation.
One Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland participant spoke of the effect the programme has had on her.
She said: “Music, I find, cues my feet, creates the bridges between my brain and my limbs, re-calibrates my skewed proprioception, restores my balance, my fluidity of movement and grace.
“When I go into the dance class, for that hour-and-a-half, I am a dancer, not a person with Parkinson’s.
“I park the unwanted visitor at the door and dance and feel lovely.”
The initiative is being managed by Dance Base, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, and Scottish Ballet, Scotland’s National Dance Company. It is being delivered with Parkinson’s UK.
Meghan Bidwell, dance health manager at Dance Base, said: “Dance Base and Scottish Ballet are delighted to bring our national Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland programme to Perth, together with Horsecross Arts.
“We look forward to connecting with even more people during this exciting period and are grateful to our funders for supporting this valuable work.”
The classes will be run by speciallytrained tutors, and are designed for people who have Parkinson’s disease, and their families and carers. They are suitable for people with no experience in dance, and aim to develop confidence and creativity among participants.
The classes will also address specific concerns associated with Parkinson’s disease, such as balance, flexibility, coordination, gait and social isolation. Each session is followed by a social cafe.
There are estimated to be 12,400 people currently living with Parkinson’s in Scotland. This number is set to increase over the next 25 years. Dance is thought to aid people with the condition physically, mentally and socially.
Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland classes begin on September 23 and run until December 16, from 11am until 1pm. They will take place at The Space, Perth Theatre, until November 4, and at the Norie-Miller Studio, Perth Concert Hall, from November 11 until the programme’s conclusion.
For further information on how to participate in the classes, contact Horsecross Arts dance development officer Peter Royston on 01738 477730. adiouri@thecourier.co.uk
Parkinson’s is a cruel disease, affecting patients’ balance, flexibility and co-ordination, stripping them of their confidence and leaving many of them socially isolated.
So it is cheering to hear of the success of a scheme in Perth that works with people with Parkinson’s, their families and carers, using dance to alleviate symptoms and boost mental wellbeing. A simple idea but one that could put a spring in the step of many more of the 12,400 people living with Parkinson’s in Scotland.