ABSTRACT
In the United States, dance classes taught by professional dancers and offered as a physical activity for persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD) began in 2001. Brooklyn Parkinson Group, a nonprot organization collaborated with Mark Morris Dance Group, a world-renowned modern dance company, to develop Dance for PDSM classes based on the teaching method and basic structure of a ballet class. Over 70 other dance classes using the same methods and structure of Dance for PD® now take place across the United States Canada, England, Europe, Israal and India and in England. Many more Dance for PD® classes are in development. Tango, general ballroom, and salsa classes designed for persons with PD are also now offered around the country. The purpose of this chapter is to consider the potential benets of dance for persons with PD, in reference to other forms of exercise.
