My name’s Eve Walker and at the time of writing this blog I was in my final year of dance studies at Dance City Newcastle.
As part of my Degree in Professional Dance, I had to complete placement hours for my final module ‘Working In Dance’. So in the Spring of 2022 I undertook a placement with Pelican Theatre working alongside Ellie Trow and Pagan Hunt and the Live Well & Dance with Parkinson's performance group in Newcastle who met every Wednesday in Wallsend…
Prior to my placement I had little experience with Parkinsons however I have a vast amount of experience working with older adults in different contexts. Working with the Live Well & Dance with Parkinsons group has been a joy, to watch a group of people come together every week to enjoy dancing is something so important to me and means so much.
I originally come from a rural area of North Yorkshire where community dance classes are hard to come by, so being involved with the group in Wallsend has been an experience affirming for me the need for community dance. It has also shown me the type of work I am really passionate about. And, although I am interested in a professional performance career in dance, being involved in community dance classes such as the Live Well & Dance with Parkinsons group has solidified my priorities and shown the real power dance holds and the impact it can have on individuals’ lives.
In my placement experience, I supported the group in exploring creative ideas and rehearsing choreography as they were working towards a performance in the MetroCentre Shopping Mall that took place on World Parkinsons Day, on 11th April. The one hour class in Wallsend is situated in the Segedunum Roman Centre and is primarily focused on creativity and exploring movement through improvisation and visualisation.
We always start with tea and coffee (and more importantly, biscuits!) before gently getting into the class and moving our bodies.
The members of the group welcomed me with open arms and made me feel part of their community from my very first session. Over the past weeks I have seen the group develop creatively and come together in order to produce a well rehearsed, professional performance.
There is a present, ongoing need for community dance and it is small groups like the Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s group that are having a real impact, especially to those living with Parkinson’s. Living with Parkinson’s does not stop any member of the group from being creative and exploring a multitude of possibilities with their bodies each week.
The group comes together to socialise, move their bodies creatively and bond over a common, often negatively perceived idea of Parkinsons. The class is an outlet for many members of the group and it is wonderful to see husbands and wives taking part each week in support of their partners living with Parkinson’s.
Week on week I have seen friendships develop and new members welcomed with open arms, much like my transition into the group. The one hour session every week is much more than a one hour class on a Wednesday morning, it is an opportunity to connect with others, socialise and make new friends, and explore creatively in a liberating, safe, held environment filled with passion and support.
It has been a great honour to be involved with the Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s group over the past months and I would like to thank Ellie Trow, Pagan Hunt and Lyn Cambell for their ongoing support and kindness. I would also like to thank all of the members of the Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s group for being constant inspirations within my own dance journey.
Image credit: Eve Walker.