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P. 129
SET DANCING SKILLS & HERITAGE
Parkinson’s sufferers. As dancers must change direction “Members of the research team at the University of
frequently during a set dancing session, the weight is Limerick, together with Frank Ryan and Louise Coman,
being constantly transferred from one leg to another have also explored the benefits of set dancing in a cross
with an overall remarkable improvement in their sectional study in older people without Parkinson’s
movement. disease. This study compared balance, functional fitness
It is also thought that the strong, upbeat and rhythmic and quality of life in older adults who regularly set
pattern of Irish traditional music gives the brain dance with age-matched controls who do not set dance.
acoustic cues enabling it to bypass the “transmissions This study found that those who regularly participated
dysfunctionalities” associated with Parkinson’s disease. in set dancing had better balance, quality of life and
Dr. Volpe went on to conduct formal studies that functional endurance compared with non-set dancers of
confirmed his initial findings and these were presented a similar age.”
to the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and
Movement Disorders in Dublin in 2012. Joanne Shanahan
(Physiotherapist, Irish set dancing teacher, and PhD Researcher)
Inspired by Dr. Volps research, set dancer Geraldine Pdmaapicnesrnraodxedkdowiohmeaipniibnnnfpohssrfrlmlecs-rwseiieeocycmerosmlauwuehmssinqnesoainlsn’uostfoidpstioyewnoiicfiitcnnnstsoarctihksagt,htmoastneilhloanehynoyydsnfcmnebtatiParxmahnhab,fouparioliecaoeeolarsntrluntvokednvicmtynredmireic,loansuegwmesmfbeossmdysraaolifesemietaisnonnnutsmleiiar’deiptgsscn,v.ntwohtss-mgadsIodrtudtpi..iamyiluffaIlTmeplsffltnpsieesprhscuciacorrcrlesouuynoeehiogrnnlurelbk,ergtiasepgninelfnrreaea.saeckwodsrmcsrrslnewiuiiieiwsvgfalso.daflneeiliiwHaldtegcx.shbnuienpoIotrdttlyew’atsoriieenirevsn,erce
Teggart in Bristol decided to bring the joy of set dancing
to ordinary people in her area. A gentle approach is “All our everyday worries leave
taken: us when we step on to the dance
“Each week we make sure each person with Parkinson’s has floor and hear the music, all we
an experienced set dancer as a partner. At the beginning want to do is dance”
of each workshop we emphasize the importance of people Josie Meehan, Portlaoise ARA
taking breaks whenever they need to, letting us know if
they are having difficulties, and going at their own pace. “Enjoyable way of keeping fit, also
We play music at a much slower speed than usual. Each it is an exercise that is good for
time we start with warm-up steps (both reel and polka) and the heart”
move on to the sets.”
In 2015, a group with Parkinson’s “Good for overall fitness and helps
completed a ten-week set-dancing keep the muscles flexible”
course with Maureen Culleton from
Ballyfin Co. Laois. Maureen received “Learning the steps of the dances
special certification to teach set is a great way to help improve our
dancing to Parkinson’s sufferers memory!”
having learned the best methods Josie Meehan, Portlaoise ARA
of teaching dance to people
with low mobility, stiffness and “Something to look forward to
ongoing physical problems such =Fun with friends!
as tremors and fatigue. In 2014 Orla O’Byrne,
move4parkinsons commenced pilot Member of the Portlaoise ARA
classes with 30 participants, taught
by Irish set-dancing teacher Pat
O’Dea, who has also been trained in
Dr Volpe’s methodology.
Further studies into the potential
benefits of set dancing for
Parkinson’s sufferers are presently
underway at Limerick University.
www.move4parkinsons.com PSoerttlDaoainsceinAgRA With thanks to Bill Lynch of
www.setdancingnews.net Setdancingnews.net and Josie
Meehan, Orla O’Byrne and
Maureen Culleton Portlaoise
Active Retirement Group.
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 129
Parkinson’s sufferers. As dancers must change direction “Members of the research team at the University of
frequently during a set dancing session, the weight is Limerick, together with Frank Ryan and Louise Coman,
being constantly transferred from one leg to another have also explored the benefits of set dancing in a cross
with an overall remarkable improvement in their sectional study in older people without Parkinson’s
movement. disease. This study compared balance, functional fitness
It is also thought that the strong, upbeat and rhythmic and quality of life in older adults who regularly set
pattern of Irish traditional music gives the brain dance with age-matched controls who do not set dance.
acoustic cues enabling it to bypass the “transmissions This study found that those who regularly participated
dysfunctionalities” associated with Parkinson’s disease. in set dancing had better balance, quality of life and
Dr. Volpe went on to conduct formal studies that functional endurance compared with non-set dancers of
confirmed his initial findings and these were presented a similar age.”
to the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and
Movement Disorders in Dublin in 2012. Joanne Shanahan
(Physiotherapist, Irish set dancing teacher, and PhD Researcher)
Inspired by Dr. Volps research, set dancer Geraldine Pdmaapicnesrnraodxedkdowiohmeaipniibnnnfpohssrfrlmlecs-rwseiieeocycmerosmlauwuehmssinqnesoainlsn’uostfoidpstioyewnoiicfiitcnnnstsoarctihksagt,htmoastneilhloanehynoyydsnfcmnebtatiParxmahnhab,fouparioliecaoeeolarsntrluntvokednvicmtynredmireic,loansuegwmesmfbeossmdysraaolifesemietaisnonnnutsmleiiar’deiptgsscn,v.ntwohtss-mgadsIodrtudtpi..iamyiluffaIlTmeplsffltnpsieesprhscuciacorrcrlesouuynoeehiogrnnlurelbk,ergtiasepgninelfnrreaea.saeckwodsrmcsrrslnewiuiiieiwsvgfalso.daflneeiliiwHaldtegcx.shbnuienpoIotrdttlyew’atsoriieenirevsn,erce
Teggart in Bristol decided to bring the joy of set dancing
to ordinary people in her area. A gentle approach is “All our everyday worries leave
taken: us when we step on to the dance
“Each week we make sure each person with Parkinson’s has floor and hear the music, all we
an experienced set dancer as a partner. At the beginning want to do is dance”
of each workshop we emphasize the importance of people Josie Meehan, Portlaoise ARA
taking breaks whenever they need to, letting us know if
they are having difficulties, and going at their own pace. “Enjoyable way of keeping fit, also
We play music at a much slower speed than usual. Each it is an exercise that is good for
time we start with warm-up steps (both reel and polka) and the heart”
move on to the sets.”
In 2015, a group with Parkinson’s “Good for overall fitness and helps
completed a ten-week set-dancing keep the muscles flexible”
course with Maureen Culleton from
Ballyfin Co. Laois. Maureen received “Learning the steps of the dances
special certification to teach set is a great way to help improve our
dancing to Parkinson’s sufferers memory!”
having learned the best methods Josie Meehan, Portlaoise ARA
of teaching dance to people
with low mobility, stiffness and “Something to look forward to
ongoing physical problems such =Fun with friends!
as tremors and fatigue. In 2014 Orla O’Byrne,
move4parkinsons commenced pilot Member of the Portlaoise ARA
classes with 30 participants, taught
by Irish set-dancing teacher Pat
O’Dea, who has also been trained in
Dr Volpe’s methodology.
Further studies into the potential
benefits of set dancing for
Parkinson’s sufferers are presently
underway at Limerick University.
www.move4parkinsons.com PSoerttlDaoainsceinAgRA With thanks to Bill Lynch of
www.setdancingnews.net Setdancingnews.net and Josie
Meehan, Orla O’Byrne and
Maureen Culleton Portlaoise
Active Retirement Group.
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 129
