大象传媒

A story, told in dance steps, of people with Parkinson鈥檚 finding balance in the movements and rhythms of the Argentine tango.

Four couples living with Parkinson鈥檚 disease attend a dance class for people with balance issues. The dance becomes entwined with their stories as they master the basic walking steps of the Argentine tango and work towards a choreographed performance for a group of people newly diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚.

Along the way, they reflect on how dancing is helping them to confront their diagnosis and what it means to them.

Roy Jones has been living with Parkinson鈥檚 for over twenty years. He and his wife Pat are learning Argentina鈥檚 鈥榳alking dance鈥� as a way to counteract the loss of movement associated with the condition.

鈥淚f I freeze, I automatically think of a dance step and it kick-starts my brain,鈥� says Roy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like having a tooth missing from a cog. Suddenly you jump that missing tooth, and I鈥檓 moving again鈥� I鈥檓 dancing鈥� and that鈥檚 where I want to be.鈥�

Joy Rainbird attends the class every week with her husband John as a way to overcome his rapidly advancing Parkinson鈥檚. 鈥淚t takes me back to when we were confident and I used to trust John to hold me and sway me and lead me...鈥�

Julie Douglas, who partners her mother, finds dancing an escape from the frustration of trying to do things with Parkinson鈥檚. Norman Moore and his wife Glynis use the tango steps to overcome the physical 鈥渟tutter鈥� of his condition.

Produced by Cicely Fell
A Falling Tree production for 大象传媒 Radio 4
[photo credit: Cicely Fell]