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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults
Published on: December 9, 2014
Effects of a short duration, high dose contact improvisation dance workshop on Parkinson disease: a pilot study
David Marchant1, Jennifer L Sylvester, Gammon M Earhart
1Performing Arts Department, and School of Medicine, Program in Physical Therapy,Washington University in St. Louis, 4444 Forest Park Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108-2212, USA.
Objectives:
This study explored the feasibility and possible benefits of contact improvisation (CI) as an exercise intervention for individuals with PD.
Design:
This was an uncontrolled pilot study.
Intervention:
Eleven people with PD (H&Y=2.4 ± 0.4) participated in a workshop of 10 1.5-h CI classes over 2 weeks, dancing with previously trained student CI dancers.
Main Outcome Measures:
Measures of disease severity, balance, functional mobility, and gait were compared 1 week before and after the workshop.
Results:
Participants demonstrated improvements on the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale-Motor Subsection and Berg balance scores, along with increased swing and decreased stance percentages during walking. Backward step length also increased. Participants expressed a high level of enjoyment and interest in taking future CI classes.
Conclusions:
This pilot study supports the feasibility of CI as an intervention to address mobility limitations associated with PD.
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