This Little Rock dance studio helps people with Parkinson’s Disease reclaim their joy through movement.

Little Rock dancer and instructor Rebecca Stalcup is offering movement classes for people with Parkinson’s Disease at her studio, Arkansas Academy of Dance, twice a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Little Rock. She was inspired to start the program, called Dance for Life, after a close friend was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Since then, the class has grown into a consistent community and a welcoming space for people living with Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s Disease, a disabling condition afflicting almost a million Americans, impacts a person’s balance, coordination, and emotional state. It’s considered a dynamic disease because its symptoms may present differently from day to day. People with Parkinson’s can’t predict how their bodies will behave when they wake up in the morning, so even simple activities like walking and standing become a challenge. But inside Rebecca’s downtown studio, people with Parkinson’s are finding the courage and confidence to continue moving – together. 

Dance therapy has become a promising method of managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, which range from physical rigidity and tremors to emotional confusion and depression. The rhythm and symbolism used in Dance for Life classes stimulates the brain in a way that mimics dopamine, creating space for students to reconnect with feelings of lightness and emotional freedom.

Rebecca says that the class is a breath of fresh air for the students. “We use a lot of imagery – a babbling brook, a flock of birds, a rising moon – and these moments of storytelling help the students find their next moment of excitement or motivation.”

Rebecca started the class as a tribute to her longtime friend and fellow career dancer, Scott McGee, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Moved by his battle with the disease, she decided to pursue specialized training in dance therapy. “These people are living with something completely unexpected. They never know what the day will bring,” she said. “The class becomes like a whole new planet they can step into, where they can feel good again.”

The top priority during a Dance for Life class is safety. The floors are completely smooth with all tripping hazards removed. There’s also a water station and emergency kit nearby, and volunteers participate in the class alongside Parkinson’s patients, ready to assist. “If they’re having mobility issues, we work around it. If someone falls, we make sure they’re okay and get them into a seated position, then get them re-engaged with the class if they are able to continue,” explained Rebecca. “I want them to walk in and know that however they’re moving that day is okay.” Dance for Life is a judgement-free zone where anyone with motor differences can enjoy the self- expression of dance with safety and support.

Before the first official class, the team at Arkansas Academy of Dance held six months of mock sessions with senior volunteers to refine their new offering. The trial period confirmed to Rebecca that intentional movement could translate into real improvement in the lives of her students.

Medical students occasionally attend Dance for Life. They participate alongside the regulars, and afterwards listen to the self-reported experience of the students with Parkinson’s disease. Rebecca says that her students affirm that they look forward to the laughter and excitement that happens during a class, and take refuge in the moments of peaceful visualization it offers. The conversations between students, teachers, and doctors that take place on these days illuminate the deep impact and meaning Dance for Life provides for people with Parkinson’s disease.

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