Research-informed graphic novel expands on the benefits of music and dance for PD 

The collaborative research lends a voice to Parkinson’s disease patients who find both practical and personal meaning in dance as part of their therapeutic treatment. 

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A recent collaborative Danish research project Dancing with Parkinson’s contributes experience-based knowledge by people with Parkinson’s about how music and dance offers more than training alone [5,7]. Interviews were conducted with 37 people with Parkinson’s who dance regularly, supplemented with 6 spouses and 7 dance instructors. The researchers collated 3 themes:  

1. Music and dance are combined in ways that bring benefits related to remembering good times through songs and dances, enjoying learning various dances, and feeling happy. People with Parkinson’s report gaining energy, vitality, mobility, and sensory awareness, which motivates them to continue dancing [6,7].  

2. Social relations are important, and a dance community helps combat isolation and stigma. Dance is perceived as different from the obligatory physiotherapy and training that disciplines the body.  

3. Dancing is existentially meaningful as artistic activity that improves quality of life without medicine or side effects. Some even find that dance and music promote spiritual and sensual well-being and acceptance because their lives are expressed through song and dance.  

The interviews formed the basis for co-produced research communication in a graphic novel [5] aimed at telling stories about living with Parkinson’s, encouraging empathy and hope, and spreading the joy of dance and music. 

References 

1. Morris, M. E., Slade, S. C., Wittwer, J. E., Blackberry, I., Haines, S., Hackney, M. E., & McConvey, V. B. (2021). Online Dance Therapy for People with Parkinson’s Disease: Feasibility and Impact on Consumer Engagement. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 35(12), 1076-1087. DOI: 10.1177/15459683211046254 
2. McMahon, J., Chazot, P. Dance and Parkinson’s: Biological Perspective and Rationale. LifestyleMed. 2020;1:e15. https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.15 
3. Morris, M. E., Menz, H., McGinley, J. L., Watts, J. J., Huxham, F. E., Murphy, A. T., Danoudis, M., Iansek, R. A Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Falls and Improve Mobility in People with Parkinson’s disease. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 2015;29(8) 777-785. JCR Impact Factor 4.617. DOI: 10.1177/1545968314565511  
4. Shanahan, J., Morris, M. E., Bhriain, O. N., Volpe, D., Lynch, T., & Clifford, A. M. (2017). Dancing for Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Trial of Irish Set Dancing Compared with Usual Care. Archives of Physical Medicine, 98(9), 1744-1751. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2017.02.017 
5. Frølunde, L., Phillips, L. J., Christensen-Strynø, M. B. (2023). Moving Along: A Co-produced Graphic Novel about Parkinson’s Dance. Illus.: Jetsmark, C., Vium, T.  Peter Lang Academic Publishers. DOI: 10.3726/b19900 
6. Christensen-Strynø, M. B., Frølunde, L., Phillips, L. J. (2023) Crip Empathography: Co-Creating a Graphic Novel about Parkinson's Dance Experiences. Journal of Literary and Cultural Disability Studies. 17(3), 327–348. DOI: 10.3828/jlcds.2023.25 
7. Christensen-Strynø, M. B., Phillips, L. J., Frølunde, L. (2021). Revitalising Sensualities of Ageing with Parkinson's through Dance. Journal of Aging Studies, 59, 1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2021.100978 

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