Dancing with Parkinson’s pivots to virtual classes

DANCING with Parkinson’s Surf Coast has pirouetted to online classes and is now thriving in the new medium.

Program director Jacqui Dreessens has been running the class on the Surf Coast for just over a year.

Ms Dreessens said she decided to try virtual lessons soon after it became clear they would have to begin isolating.

“When the whole pandemic hit and we all had to close down, we’d just had our final dance class,” she said.

“We had a luncheon together and I explained that I was going to try and put our classes on Zoom and that all you need is somebody with you who can operate the computer.”

Ms Dreessens said not only did dancers respond readily to the challenge but their carers too.

“Everybody’s worked very hard to make it doable. We’ve been doing it every week during the pandemic.

“Dance is fantastic in the way it helps us in the way it makes those links in our brain to put movement patterns together. But when you learn that through the screen it requires a different way of thinking, and that’s where the carers are really important because the engagement can happen facing or dancing with their carers, and I can see through the camera how everyone is interacting.

“If a dancer with Parkinson’s has a fantastic carer, they just have such an enjoyment in the dance class.”

Ms Dreessens is an ethnochoreologist and creates movement centred around different traditional dances like Celtic, Bachata, Rumba, African, Classical Ballet, Swing and Hip Hop but is fluid with choreography.

Ms Dreessens said the communal element of the classes have also become increasingly important during isolation.

“The social aspect is just so vital. To be able to share how everyone’s feeling and where we’re all at. It’s something that a lot of them look forward to,” she said.

“Sometimes when they’re feeling really tired or not feeling well and don’t want to be seen they can still follow the classes on screen and still interact. And then they might come on at the end of the workshop and talk about things.”

Ms Dreessens said there is now a chance the digital classes will continue beyond lockdown.

“People are even now saying ‘we don’t mind these Zoom classes, it doesn’t matter what I’m wearing or if my hair is messy, we’re all just here together dancing online,’” she said.

“And it doesn’t take the big organisation that it takes for them to get out of the house and into the car, and driving to the Torquay Senior Citizens Hall, all of which is a major event for dancers who have Parkinson’s, and so there are some benefits of being on Zoom.

“We’re at the point where we’re thinking maybe we’ll continue the Zoom class when the pandemic is over, or maybe we’ll continue and also have a live dance class for those that really want the live connection.”

Participants do not need to have Parkinson’s to join as the class is open to any adults. For some people it provides an opportunity to dance with their parents or grandparents, for others living alone it is a chance to connect with others through dance.

People interested in joining can contact Ms Dreessens by emailing [email protected] or phoning 0488 526 656.

Some past virtual classes can also be viewed by heading to facebook.com/dancingwithparkinsonssurfcoast.