This study explores the content and characteristics of English National Ballet(ENB)'s Dance for Parkinson's, the first public ballet company to conduct such a study and successfully implement a community dance education program for Parkinson's disease using ballet.
A key feature of ENB's Dance for Parkinson's is the active use of the ballet company's repertoire, which gives participants a sense of belonging and self-efficacy as if they are part of a ballet performance. The narrative of classical ballet also brings joy and vitality to the lives of the participants whose personal stories are dulled and erased by Parkinson's, giving them a different story to tell.
By including not only dance sessions, but also theater tours and performances associated with the work, the program expands artistic knowledge, provides a "holistic artistic experience" through a wide range of cultural activities, and promotes community bonding and socialization.
The ballet-Parkinson's program serves as a positive body awareness and useful physical activity by enabling participants to imagine and experience the "organized freedom and beauty" of a body that has become disorganized and unnatural, while the history and popularity of ballet also reinforces the intellectual, emotional, and social aspects of non-motor activity.
Finally, ENB's Dance for Parkinson's is an example of exemplary community dance in the UK, as the company has demonstrated the value of 'ballet for all', making ballet accessible to the widest possible audience, and the company's specific commitment to developing a range of community programming aimed at the general public.