A Milestone Achievement
Lifespan Dance, in collaboration with its long-term partners Parkinson’s WA, Dance for Parkinson’s Australia and Ausdance WA, hosted a 10-year celebration of the Dance for Parkinson’s (DP®) program in Western Australia on Saturday 1 February 2025.
The event was held at the Niche Centre for Neurological Support at QEII Medical Centre in Nedlands, Perth – the home of Parkinson’s WA.
Lifespan Dance Class // Source: Lifespan Dance Facebook
A Vision Realised 2015-2025
The 10-year milestone reflected the dedication of a visionary team from across Australia, comprising Paige Gordon, Founding Director & Lead Teacher of Lifespan Dance (Perth) and former Artistic Director of Buzz Dance Theatre WA; Erica Rose Jeffrey, Director of DP® Australia (Brisbane); and Felicity Bott, then Director of Ausdance WA.
Their collective efforts were instrumental in bringing the DP® teacher training program to Perth in early 2015 with the goal of establishing a team of qualified instructors trained in the DP® methodology.
Several of these original teachers later completed advanced training in Canberra in September 2016, strengthening the foundation of the program in Western Australia. This went on to provide the opportunity for local people living with Parkinson’s Disease in WA to experience the potential benefits of regular dance sessions by highly skilled facilitators as a complementary therapy for PD management.
The Positive Impact of Dance for Parkinson’s (DP®)
Since the early 2000s, international research has increasingly highlighted the benefits of dance with music accompaniment for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Their early findings were promising. Studies were showing that dance promotes a unique spontaneous and rhythmic coupling between sensory and motor systems, providing potential therapeutic benefits for participants.
Later research explored the cognitive and physical benefits of dance drawing on neuropsychological assessments and sensorimotor evaluations. The research found that dance not only improved participants’ quality of life but also enhanced coordination, balance, flexibility and strength thereby contributing to overall wellbeing.
In 2021, the Mark Morris Dance Group in New York founded DP® which served as the model for the Australian program. This company offers specialised dance classes tailored to individuals with Parkinson’s, led by trained professional dancers and musicians. Today, the program has expanded to over 400 communities in 30 countries, including all five boroughs of New York City.
Lifespan Dance, Ausdance WA, Healthway, and Parkinson’s WA
In 2015, Ausdance WA, supported by Healthway as part of its ‘Act-Belong-Commit Dance 100’ programs, partnered with Parkinson’s WA to introduce pilot classes in various metropolitan and regional locations.
Healthway, officially known as the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation, is the State’s dedicated health promotion agency. Established in 1991, it operates as an independent statutory body reporting to the Minister for Health. The agency’s primary mission is to promote and facilitate good health and encourage healthy lifestyles among Western Australians.
The locations selected included Midland, Fremantle, Joondalup and Mandurah. These pilot programs built upon the established regular classes in Maylands. Led by dedicated teachers and volunteers trained in Perth, this Healthway funded initiative laid the foundation for Paige Gordon to develop an inspiring and sustainable model of Dance for Parkinson’s over the past decade in Western Australia.
A Special Gathering to Celebrate 10 Years: 1 February 2025
The celebration at the Niche Centre brought together original members of the Lifespan Dance group, affectionately known as the ‘Original Gangsters,’ who shared their reflections on their experiences. Each spoke of the joy and sense of freedom dance provides and the anticipation they feel each week for their classes.
Four of the “Original Gangsters”. L-R: Derek Milton, Lois Laufmen, John and Shelley Thompson // Source: Lifespan Dance Facebook
Leadership and Advocacy on Display at the 10 Year Celebration
Paige Gordon, Director and Lead Teacher of Lifespan Dance, reflected on her decade-long journey with the program, emphasising the invaluable insights she has gained from participants and the continuous refinement of techniques to maximise benefits.
Adjunct Professor Yasmin Naglazas, CEO of Parkinson’s WA, highlighted the significance of the partnership between Parkinson’s WA and Lifespan Dance. She acknowledged Lifespan Dance’s pioneering role in Western Australia and expressed gratitude to Ausdance WA for its ongoing advocacy and support.
Ella Waterworth, Lead Teacher for Dance for Parkinson’s at Lifespan Dance, shared the profound professional satisfaction and joy she has experienced working with individuals living with Parkinson’s.
Gary Hodge, President of Ausdance WA, closed the event by congratulating Lifespan Dance and the Dance for PD ® program participants for their commitment and resilience. He commended their vital role in advancing our understanding of dance’s impact on Parkinson’s and reaffirmed Ausdance WA’s commitment to continued advocacy for the program across all tiers of government and the broader community.
More information can be found at:
Lifespan Dance www.lifespandance.com
Ausdance WA www.ausdancewa.org.au
Parkinson’s WA www.parkinsonswa.org.au
Dance for Parkinson’s Australia www.danceforparkinsonsaustralia.org
Mark Morris Dance Group markmorrisdancegroup.org
Paper prepared by Gary Hodge, President Ausdance WA .
For summaries on global research efforts, please email wa@ausdance.org.au
