How Dance Can Help People with Parkinson’s Disease

By: Ava Lerman

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the movement, balance, and mood of patients. This disease causes symptoms like tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement, and postural instability which can severely limit a person’s ability to walk, speak, or engage in daily activities. There are some medications and surgical treatments that can manage some of these issues, but often they fall short in improving balance, mental health, and overall quality of life. In response to this, researchers and caregivers have started exploring movement-based therapies as a complementary approach to managing PD. Out of these therapies, dance has emerged as a promising, evidence-backed method that can mean more than just making people smile. Dance combines physical movement with rhythm, cognitive stimulation, and social interaction, creating a unique therapeutic experience that has a chance to improve motor skills, cognitive function, and even help rewire the brain. 

Scientific Evidence and Benefits

Scientific studies now show that dance can produce real physical changes in people with Parkinson’s. One example of this is based on a 2014 meta-analysis of clinical trials. This paper found that PD patients who participated in regular dance classes showed significant improvements in their motor symptoms, including gait, speed, balance, and posture. More recent research from 2023 analyzing 14 randomized controlled trials confirmed these results as it was shown that dance significantly improved balance, especially in classes lasting for at least 12 weeks. Surprisingly in some studies, dancing even outperformed other forms of exercise like traditional physical therapy or just walking. Certain styles of dance, like Argentine tango or ballet, have been especially effective due to their emphasis on large, expressive movements that directly challenge the small, rigid movements common in Parkinson’s disease. 

How Dance Engages the Brain

Dance differentiates from other exercises in its ability to engage multiple systems in the brain at once. When you dance to music it provides rhythmic auditory cues that help regulate movement timing and reduce freezing episodes. Learning choreography challenges memory and focus, while interacting with partners builds social skills and confidence. Neuroimaging studies have begun to show that these experiences could potentially stimulate neuroplasticity which is the brain's ability to adapt and form new connections. For example, a study using fMRI scans showed the changes in motor planning and rhythm processing regions in a PD patient who completed several months of dance training. These findings support the idea that it could actually help the brain find new ways to compensate for damage the disease causes. 

Who Can Benefit from Dance Therapy?

While most research so far has focused on older adults struggling with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s, newer programs and studies have begun to include people in more advanced stages of the disease. For example, in Australia, the PD-Ballet study demonstrated how even participants with severe mobility issues could still safely partake in class in modified, chair-based dance classes. Through these programs there has been excellent participation and even improved both physical and emotional symptoms. This proves how dance can be adapted to patients needs, whether they are walking independently or using a wheelchair.

Gaps in Current Knowledge

Although there is a growing interest in dance therapy, there are still important gaps to be recognized. There are few long term studies that exist to show how dance affects PD progressions over time, and the biological mechanisms behind dance-induced brain changes need more investigation. Researchers are also trying to understand which dance styles are most effective, how often classes should occur, and whether dance can slow the disease itself, not just easing symptoms. Another major issue is access. Many people with PD, especially in rural or underserved areas, lack access to community dance programs. Other people may not feel confident trying dance unless they are specifically invited or supported. 

A Program Inspired by Research and Family

To help bridge this gap, I created a program called Together in Motion, which is a dance-based wellness program for people struggling with Parkinson’s. This program, inspired by my grandfather’s recent PD diagnosis and my passion for both science and competitive dance, combines research-backed movement with joyful community classes. I have spent over a decade developing my dance skills. I am currently a varsity contemporary and hip hop dancer at Torrey Pines High School and compete with Inspired Movement Dance Company. At the same time, I am currently working on research projects at Salk Institute and UC San Diego, including a neuroscience meta-analysis and a sonogenetics study, which deepened my interests in evidence-based health interventions.

Together in Motion is designed to be safe, fun, and flexible, offering both standing and seated versions of every dance. This program uses upbeat music, warm-up techniques inspired by PWR! Moves and builds community through fun partner and group work. Through these classes we also hope to collect outcome data and contribute to the growing field of dance therapy research. The goal of Together in Motion is not only to improve movement and confidence, but also to give participants something to look forward to, a reason for them to keep moving, thinking, and smiling. 

Conclusion

Although dance may not be a cure to Parkinson’s, it has the potential to help people with Parkinson’s move more confidently, think more clearly, and feel more connected. Dance brings together the body and the brain in a way that few therapies actually can. As research continually progresses, one thing stays clear; dancing helps people with PD not just survive, but thrive. 

Sources

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