Top medical charity, the Bupa
Foundation, awarded Dr. Sara Houston, University of Roehampton its
prestigious Vitality for Life Prize for her groundbreaking research
demonstrating how dance helps alleviate the devastating effects of
Parkinson's.
Dr Houston received the Bupa
Foundation Prize at a ceremony at Lincoln's Inn in London on the evening of 10
November 2011. She received a
cheque of £15,000 to help further her research.
The research examined
the benefits to quality of life for people with Parkinson's taking part in
dance classes run by English National Ballet. The award-winning research demonstrated how dancing can
positively affect well-being, physical movement and social integration for
those living with the debilitating condition.
Dr. Houston was honoured at
the annual Bupa Foundation Prize Dinner, for her research into the incurable
degenerative condition, which affects 120,000 people in the UK and two out of
100 people over 65. Physical
symptoms can include tremor, slow movement and stiff limbs. Since there is currently no cure,
people can live with the disease for up to 30 years, making it even more
important that ways are found to improve their quality of life.
Importantly, the research demonstrated
the added value that dance as an art form can bring to exercise routines. Dr. Houston and her research team from
the Dance Department at University of Roehampton examined English National
Ballet's Dance for Parkinson's classes over 12 weeks using ethnographic and
scientific research methods. They
demonstrated how dancing boosts physical and social confidence, as well as
encouraging more fluid and comfortable movement.
Each year the Bupa Foundation gives out
a number of awards to recognise excellence in medical research and health
care. The Vitality for Life Prize
was given to Dr. Houston for outstanding research that enabled the promotion
and encouragement of healthy ageing through physical activity and other social
solutions for the older age group.
The Bupa Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that funds medical research into the prevention, relief and cure of sickness and ill health.
On winning the award, Dr. Sara Houston,
University of Roehampton commented:
"It is tremendously exciting to win such
a prestigious award. It signals
the importance of dance research, of the seriousness behind having fun. For people with Parkinson's, dancing
offers a physical, creative and social outlet that addresses healthy living in
a holistic way. The Prize is a
real boost to dance"s acceptance as a credible alternative to straightforward
exercising."
Bupa's group medical director and deputy chairman of the Bupa Foundation, Dr Andrew Avallance-Owen, said:
"There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, so sufferers can live with the condition for up to 30 years. Dance is always a joyous and sociable activity, but Dr. Houston and the English National Ballet have proven that it can also tangibly improve lives. The Bupa Foundation is delighted to recognise the groundbreaking research which we hope will improve the quality of life for people in the UK and beyond."
The research was so successful English National Ballet extended the dance programme. The University of Roehampton is now embarking on a second phase of research in partnership with English National Ballet to look at the experience of dancing with Parkinson's long term over three years.
Dr. Sara Houston is also chair of the Foundation for Community Dance (FCD) board.
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