News and Notes

Dance for PD's quarterly newsletter | October 2025

A note from the director

UK epidemiologist and arts-in-health researcher Daisy Fancourt has described this as the “seatbelt moment” for the field of Arts in Health—a point when decades of evidence, advocacy, and lived experience are converging to create systemic change. Just as seatbelt requirements and smoking legislation once redefined public health, the integration of dance and other arts into healthcare systems now feels both inevitable and essential.

At Dance for PD, we’re proud to be part of that movement. For nearly 25 years, we’ve been quietly, diligently building the case for what we see every day in our studios: dance promotes health, dignity, and connection. The recent surge of research—from large-scale meta-analyses and imaging studies to national media coverage—affirms what our community has long understood: dance changes both the body and the brain, all while building a vital sense of belonging.

What’s most inspiring is how this growing body of evidence is being put into practice. Around the world, partners are translating research into lived experience—from two new inclusive choreographic works in process to Hrishikesh Pawar’s thriving program in Pune, to Scottish Ballet’s policy-shaping Dance Health report and the creation of the first US-based Dance for PD class in Mandarin right here in Queens, NY. Each reflects a shared belief that movement is medicine, and creativity is care.

As we approach our 25th anniversary, we’re energized by this momentum—and by the remarkable network of teachers, dancers, researchers, and supporters who make it possible. Together, we’re not just responding to change; we hope to help define what health and wellbeing can look like in the years ahead.

David Leventhal

Program Director

Program highlights

2025–26 Bowen Award Recipients Announced

Dance for PD® is proud to announce Niamh O’Loughlin and John Heginbotham as the 2025–26 recipients of the Bowen Award for Inclusive Choreography, a $10,000 annual award supporting choreographers who create new work in collaboration with and for people living with Parkinson’s.

Now in its fifth year, the award celebrates the legacy of Lucy Bowen, whose vision of artistic innovation and community engagement continues to shape the national landscape of dance and health. “This award continues Lucy’s vision of welcoming the Parkinson’s community into the creative process of dance,” said David Leventhal, Program Director of Dance for PD. “We’re thrilled to recognize two outstanding choreographers this year whose projects honor the intelligence, creativity, and artistry of people living with Parkinson’s while offering meaningful opportunities for collaboration and performance.”

Niamh O’Loughlin, based in Dundee, Scotland, will collaborate with members of the Dance for Parkinson’s program at Perth Concert Hall to create Spell Body, a short dance film inspired by the poetic confessions of Isobel Gowdie, a 17th-century Scottish woman accused of witchcraft.

Brooklyn-based choreographer and founding Dance for PD teacher John Heginbotham will partner with the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) on ENCORE: The Parkinson’s Dance Project, a multigenerational performance bringing together participants from NOBA’s Parkinson’s, Senior Fitness, and Pre-Professional programs. The work will premiere at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall in May 2026.

Westheimer's impact

Parkinson’s Life, the digital magazine of Parkinson’s Europe, has named Olie Westheimer, the visionary founder of Dance for PD®, one of ten inspiring women shaping the Parkinson’s community over the past decade.

In celebrating its 10th anniversary, Parkinson’s Life spotlighted women whose work has transformed research, advocacy, and quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s. Olie was honored for her groundbreaking role in developing the first Dance for PD class, a collaboration between the Brooklyn Parkinson Group she directed and the Mark Morris Dance Group, and for creating a model that has since expanded around the world.

“Olie’s insight—that dance could offer not only physical benefits but also joy, artistry, and community—set the foundation for everything our program has become,” said David Leventhal, Program Director of Dance for PD.

Expanding access

This fall, Dance for PD partnered with Sun Pharma to produce two community-focused events—part of the company's ParkiDance initiative—designed to share the joys and benefits of dance with people living with Parkinson’s in areas with fewer community-based resources for people with Parkinson's. In Kathmandu, Nepal, Dance for PD-trained and India-based teaching artist Vonita Singh, founder of Movement Mantra, led a presentation and class in partnership with the Parkinson’s Disease Society of Nepal. Across the globe, in Lima, Peru, Bethina Sayegh-Flores, a lead teacher in the NYC Dance for PD en español program (pictured above with the Lima group), led a parallel session, offering participants an inspiring introduction to dance-based approaches for Parkinson’s.

“It was really beautiful to see all the participants having fun and smiling,” said Sayegh-Flores. The goal is to establish ongoing local classes - but in the meantime, participants received information about joining Dance for PD’s online programs, ensuring continued access to movement, connection, and community as local partnerships evolve.

New Certified Teachers Join the Network

Dance for PD congratulates the newest certified teachers to complete the program’s rigorous peer-review process: (clockwise from top left) Malika Bernay (Oslo, Norway), Paige Gordon (Perth, Australia), Lisa Johnston (Boulder, CO), Uta Takemura (New York, NY), Kate Stark (Cincinnati, OH), and Joan Meggitt (Cleveland, OH).

Certification represents the culmination of years of training and teaching experience—at least 50 hours of leading classes for people living with Parkinson’s—and demonstrates advanced skill, creativity, and commitment to the highest standards of inclusive dance practice. Dance for PD’s certification program recognizes these teachers as international leaders in the field, equipped to model excellence and mentorship across our growing global community.

Launch Grants Expand Network

Thanks to the generosity of Bowen Fund donors, the Dance for PD Launch Grant Program has now seeded 16 pilot programs across 7 countries—Australia, Canada, Norway, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela. Designed to support teaching teams at the earliest stages of program development, Launch Grants provide tangible resources such as stipends, promotional materials, and essential infrastructure like chairs and studio rentals.

Each grantee also receives mentorship from the Dance for PD team to help build sustainable, community-rooted programs that reflect local needs and strengths. The July cohort includes new or expanding programs in Langhorne, PA (led by Candace Williams, pictured); Canning (Perth), Australia; Cape Town, South Africa; Caracas, Venezuela; Harrisburg, PA; Long Beach, CA; and Southampton, NY.

“Launch Grants continue to expand opportunities for people living with Parkinson’s to engage in high-quality, inclusive dance experiences,” said David Leventhal. “These grants also allow the program to engage smaller communities where resources are often more limited. It's a win-win for artists and the communities in which they work.”

In brief

Global Dialogue on Arts, Healing, and Belonging

Program Director David Leventhal joined an international panel presented by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab and the World Health Organization, exploring how the arts foster belonging, resilience, and healing within communities. Curated and moderated by Dr. Nisha Sajnani of NYU Steinhardt, the discussion brought together artists, researchers, and lived-experience experts to share diverse perspectives on the role of the arts in global health. Watch the discussion.

Mandarin Pilot Class Launch in Queens

This summer, Dance for PD launched its first in-person class in Mandarin at the Nan Shan Senior Center in Flushing, Queens, in partnership with the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA). Building on four years of online Mandarin programming, this pilot marks our first opportunity to connect face-to-face with Mandarin-speaking participants—a key step in expanding our reach and accessibility for this vibrant community. 

Around the network

Dance for PD hotspot: Pune

In Pune, India, dance has become a source of healing and joy for hundreds of people living with Parkinson’s disease, thanks to the vision and dedication of Hrishikesh Pawar, Artistic Director of the Centre for Contemporary Dance and a Dance for PD® Certified Teacher.

Pawar’s program, which began 15 years ago with a single class, now serves more than 180 participants in Pune and reaches dancers online across India and beyond. His approach—rooted in local music, language, and culture—has made dance both accessible and transformative. “It doesn’t feel like therapy—it feels like a celebration,” he says.

In September, Pawar, recipient of the 2024–25 Bowen Award for Inclusive Choreography, welcomed Lucy Bowen (pictured above, left, with participant, center, and Pawar right), lead funder of the award and a Dance for PD Certified Teacher and trainer, to Pune. “Our time in Pune was filled with the joy of dance and the opportunity to meet the dancers, their families and friends, and a community championing the growth of Dance for PD in India,” said Bowen.

During Bowen's visit, Pawar and his team hosted a master class for healthcare practitioners, a workshop for community supporters, and a celebratory brunch with dancers and their families. The experience underscored the growing recognition of dance as a vital part of Parkinson’s care in India. As Pawar put it, “We’ve built something special here. And after 15 years of experience and data, we know movement works. We know it heals.”

Davidson Hahn Receives Nebraska State Arts Award

Dance for PD Lincoln leader and Mark Morris Dance Group founding member Ruth Davidson Hahn has been honored with Nebraska’s State Arts Award for Access to the Arts, recognizing individuals and organizations advancing outreach and inclusion across the state.

“I am so deeply honored to receive this award,” said Hahn. “For me, dance has never been just a passion—it has been a journey and a source of pure joy, from the first time I ever stepped into a studio to now. This award is more than a personal honor; it’s a recognition of dance itself as a vital part of Nebraska’s artistic culture.”

For more than a decade, Hahn has led accessible, inclusive classes for people with Parkinson’s in Lincoln, Nebraska, embodying the spirit of lifelong dedication and creative inclusion that defines the Dance for PD network. Nebraska has one of the highest rates of Parkinson's disease per capita in the United States.

A Dance Health Model for Scotland

Scottish Ballet, a longtime Dance for PD partner, has released Exploring a Dance Health Model for Scotland, a new report outlining the company’s innovative approach to integrating dance within Scotland’s health and social care systems. 

The report, part of Scottish Ballet’s pioneering Dance Health program, emphasizes the value of social prescribing and sustainable arts-in-health models.

The accompanying podcast features Lisa Sinclair, Scottish Ballet’s Senior Dance Health Manager, in conversation with Dr. Dave Caesar, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, and Roseann Logan, Assistant Director of Alliance Scotland. Together, they explore how dance can strengthen public health frameworks by promoting wellbeing, connection, and creativity.

Washington Ballet Joins the Dance for PD Network

The Washington Ballet has launched Dance for PD® with The Washington Ballet, joining a growing global list of ballet companies offering dedicated programs for people living with Parkinson’s. Led by Lucy Bowen in partnership with Washington Ballet teaching artists, the program builds on the Ballet’s community engagement mission and expands access to high-quality, inclusive dance experiences in the nation’s capital.

A new video highlights the joy and community fostered through the classes, featuring participants and teaching artists sharing their stories.

With this launch, Washington Ballet joins an extraordinary network of more than 16 professional ballet companies offering Dance for Parkinson’s programs worldwide.

Research and resources

Recent studies, new publications, and national media coverage continue to affirm what our community experiences every day: dance changes the brain, the body, and the story of living with Parkinson’s.

Holistic Approaches in Parkinson’s Care

A new groundbreaking review in Movement Disorders Clinical Practice highlights the importance of wellness-based, individualized treatment frameworks for Parkinson’s. The article serves as a call to action for practitioners to move beyond treatment as usual: "This approach encourages self-management and advocates a proactive, rather than reactive, treatment model," they write. "We also call for medical teams to use comprehensive tools as a prompt for health care professionals, to integrate holistic care for PD in a global setting."

Notably, the paper integrates dance into a broader model of “exercise as medicine,” recommending it specifically for addressing balance, gait, mood, and cognition. The authors propose a pragmatic, adaptable approach to exercise prescription that connects patient goals with evidence-based modalities and underscore the value of dance as both physical training and mind-body practice.

AARP on the Power of Learning Through Movement

A recent AARP Magazine feature on exercise for Parkinson’s highlights what the Dance for PD community already knows: movement that challenges both body and mind has profound benefits.

“Learning something new, learning how to move in a new way, can change the biology of the brain,” says Dr. Rebecca Gilbert, Chief Mission Officer of the American Parkinson Disease Association. The article notes that mentally engaging activities like dance may boost blood flow to the brain more than familiar forms of exercise — and may even elevate mood and lessen depression.

The piece highlights findings from a 2024 York University study (featured in our last newsletter) showing that participants in weekly dance classes at Canada’s National Ballet School experienced fewer symptoms of depression after eight months, with MRI data revealing a neurological mechanism underlying these improvements.

New Release: The Parkinson’s Plan

Neurologists Dr. Ray Dorsey and Dr. Michael Okun, co-authors of Ending Parkinson’s Disease, have released a groundbreaking new book: The Parkinson’s Plan: The Doctor’s Guide to Preventing and Fighting Parkinson’s Disease.

The book introduces the “Parkinson’s 25,” a practical checklist to help readers lower their risk and improve their quality of life through science-based strategies covering everything from nutrition and environmental exposure to exercise and sleep.

Before the book launched, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Dorsey (in white shirt and chinos, center) to a Dance for PD class in Brooklyn where he observed the program in action and met participants. His ongoing advocacy continues to connect clinical research and community practice in pursuit of prevention, empowerment, and hope.

Documentary in Production: Silent Killer

Emmy-nominated filmmaker Sarah Teale is producing Silent Killer, a new documentary exploring potential environmental causes of Parkinson’s. 

The project, inspired by her husband’s diagnosis and a local cluster of cases in upstate New York, features, appropriately, Dr. Dorsey, who is leading a scientific investigation into regional Parkinson’s “hot spots.”

The film aims to raise awareness about Parkinson’s diagnoses believed to be environmentally caused—and how identifying those causes could help prevent future cases.

New Evidence for Dance as Therapy

Three fresh-off-the-presses studies deepen the scientific evidence base for dance as a core intervention in Parkinson’s care:

Network Meta-Analysis of 55 RCTs (Mao et al., 2025)
A large-scale meta-analysis comparing nine types of exercise found dance to be the most effective for improving balance, while mind-body exercises excelled in cognitive outcomes. The authors recommend tailoring exercise prescriptions to target specific symptom domains.
Read the study →

Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise (Kim et al., 2025)
After three months of partnered dance sessions, participants experienced reduced OFF-time (periods when medication wears off) and improved quality of life, outperforming traditional walking exercise.
Read the study →

Short-Term Crossover Study (Carapellotti et al., 2025)
A crossover study found that a single dance session significantly improved functional mobility compared to a lecture control condition, suggesting immediate, short-term gains in movement confidence and coordination.
Read the study →

Discounts for Dance for PD constituents

Affiliate partnerships help our community members stay active, mobile, and independent—all while supporting Dance for PD programming.

Urban Poling Activator Poles | 10% Off
Designed to improve posture, balance, and natural walking patterns, Activator® Poles are perfect for individuals with Parkinson’s. Enjoy a 10% discount, and Urban Poling will donate 10% of sales to support Dance for PD. Learn more and purchase.

SitnStand Everywhere Lift Chair | $50 Off
This innovative chair promotes independence and enhances mobility for people with Parkinson’s, easing the journey for care partners too. Get $50 off and know that 10% of your purchase supports Dance for PD. Learn more and purchase.

For members

New resource for Professional members

People Dancing, our partner in the UK, People Dancing is offering a special discounted rate on its Online Courses and Professional Qualifications exclusively for Dance for PD® members. With eight self-paced courses and six qualifications to choose from, there's something for every dance practitioner—whether you work with young children, older adults, or people living with Parkinson’s.

Courses are developed by expert artists, including David Leventhal (Dance for PD®), Diane Amans (Dance with Older People), and others, and cover topics such as risk assessment, teaching skills, and income development.

To access the discount, log into your Dance for PD member account, select the CPD through People Dancing button in your dashboard, and then select the Organisational Partners Price when purchasing. Access codes will be sent within 7–10 working days. Additional group discounts are available for organizations with 6+ learners.

Digital library: New Additions

We've recently added new classes led by some of our NYC flagship's most popular teachers to our Digital Class library! Dance for PD Members receive access to these and more than 400 full class recordings, which are organized by genre. The library features a variety of teachers leading Dance for PD, Dance for PD PRO, Sing and PD Movement Lab classes. The resource also includes a Tap for PD series, meditation sessions, as well as Pilates and Yoga classes and a Featured Class of the Week. Not a member? Click here to join today.

Toolkit

Looking for the latest report about the intersection of arts and health? Access to our photo pool? A handbook for class volunteers? Quotes about Dance for PD from medical professionals? Suggested language for a class waiver? It's all in our Member Toolkit, which we update regularly with valuable resources you can use to plan, launch, and sustain your classes.

Other member services

Free shipping and discounts
U.S. members receive free shipping, and international members receive discounted shipping on all At Home DVD and music CD orders. Members also receive a discount on Dance for PD T-shirts.

Ryver
Ryver is a members' forum that allows you to post thoughts and questions, and share links with other members. Ryver is easy and fun to use, and can be accessed through a mobile App as well as via computer. You can log into your account

Thank you for reading News and Notes! 

Dance for PD® gratefully acknowledges the major support of the following contributors to Dance for PD for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). Supporters at the $1,500 level and above are listed alphabetically. We extend our gratitude to the hundreds of additional Dance for PD members and donors who also provide vital support.

Public support for Dance for PD is provided by New York City Council Member Crystal Hudson, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.