“We’re All Here to Be Dancers Together”: Perspectives on Facilitating Dance Classes for Individuals With Parkinson’s.

Publication date: Jul 01, 2025

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder impacting physical, cognitive, emotional, and sensory functions. Dance is a form of physical activity that can offer social, psychological, and physical benefits and enhance quality of life for individuals with Parkinson’s. This study explored program facilitators’ perceptions and experiences facilitating a community dance class for individuals with Parkinson’s through the lens of physical literacy. Six program facilitators (four instructors, one volunteer, and one musical accompanist) of a weekly community dance class participated in semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, generating three themes: (a) Dance as tuning into one’s self: Enriching the body, mind, and spirit; (b) Everybody can dance: Feeling successful and fostering confidence; and (c) Looking forward to Tuesdays: Promoting connection, belonging, and community. This study provides insight into the teaching practices, as well as the design and facilitation of community dance classes for individuals with Parkinson’s.

Concepts Keywords
Dancers Aged
Parkinson community dance
Teaching dance pedagogy
Tuesdays Dance Therapy
Volunteer Dancing
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Parkinson Disease
physical literacy
Qualitative Research
Quality of Life
social connection

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH neurological disorder
disease MESH Parkinson Disease
pathway KEGG Parkinson disease

Original Article

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