People with Parkinson’s find movement in dance

Pune: The Avartan Dance Foundation has organised the Dance for Parkinson's Symposium 2026, positioning performance as a tool for healing, expression and community building among those with Parkinson's disease.The condition is often understood through its visible symptoms of tremors, stiffness and a gradual loss of motor control. However, practitioners in Pune are making an attempt to shift the lens toward possibility — restoring not just movement, but dignity and connection through the art.The two-day symposium will be held at The Box from 10am to 2pm on April 11 and 12. It will bring together doctors, therapists, artists, caregivers and individuals living with Parkinson's. The programme is designed as an inclusive space that combines dialogue with practice. It will feature talks, interactive sessions, story sharing and live performances.The key sessions include a talk on the impact of arts in creative health by professor of cardiovascular and respirator therapy Dr Prajakta Sahastrabudhe and head of community outreach at Avartan Tanvi Hegade. They will explore creative approaches to supporting long-term well being. "Some of the biggest challenges for people with PD are coming to terms with a changing body caused by a gradual loss of control over motor functions and the consequent feeling of being alone," Hegade said.The symposium will screen Rhythms of Resilience, a documentary tracing the choreographic journey of the Dance for PD India programme. Another session led by therapeutic dance facilitator Kirti Srivastava and movement facilitator Amruta Dharmakamble will examine on-ground challenges in offering therapeutic dance. "People suffering from Parkinson's don't need sympathy but empowerment," Srivastava said.Dharmakamble will extend the conversation to younger groups, noting how movement can aid expression and confidence. "It becomes a medium for both physical and emotional growth," she said.Chairperson of Sancheti Healthcare Academy Manisha Sanghavi said, "It's not about Parkinson's patients and their symptoms, it's about making them feel as normal as possible — with dance as a healing tool," she said. The symposium is for doctors, therapists, students, patients, caregivers and anyone remotely connected to Parkinson's disease.
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