When the tango begins to play, Lidia Beltran pulls out of Parkinson’s teasing her, grabs her therapist and dancing, her body fluid and her step precisely, as part of an innovative treatment program in Buenos Aires.
About 200 patients have participated in tango workshops offered over the past 15 years at Ramos Mejia Hospital to study the effect of the dance on the symptoms of this incurable neurodegenerative diseases, organizers told AFP.
“One of the biggest problems with the disease is walking disorder, and the tango, like a wandering dance, is working to start and stop steps and strategies to walk,” says neurologist Nelida Garretto.
The results have been encouraging. Many patients find ways to relieve symptoms such as the motor blocks that “freeze” their gait, says neurologist Tomoko Arakaki.
“A patient told us that when she freezes, she tries to make ‘Figure Eight’ – one of the classic tango steps – with her feet, and this allows her to get out of the freezer,” says Arakaki.
Dans Tango helps to build a “sensory path” that helps walk, she says.
“We know Parkinson’s requires pharmaceutical treatments. Tango is used to rehabilitate the motor part. With music you can get out of complex situations,” she says.
Beltran, 66 and diagnosed with Parkinson’s two years ago, had never danced the tango. She took up the workshop on advice from doctors.
“If it is to stop progress, I have to do what I have to dance in my life,” she says.
In addition to shaking, stiffness, difficulties with balance and speech problems, Parkinson’s leading to social isolation and depression. The Tango workshop can help in these areas.
Beltran reports that Dancing increases her stability and her mood. “Tomorrow I’m sure I will feel better because I danced tango today,” she says.
Tuesday Happiness
Patients dance with partners not suffering from Parkinson’s, and under the guidance of dance therapists such as Manuco Firmani, a professional tango dancer who has been involved in Parkinson’s rehabilitation since 2011.
Emilia, 86, doesn’t want to give her a last name because she dances against her son’s wishes, who care about the two-hour bus tour she takes to reach the studio in Central Buenos Aires.
“For me, this is the happiness of every Tuesday,” says the retired teacher with a fragile, bent body and whispering voice, for whom Tango evokes memories of her youth.
“Every year we make specific evaluations to analyze the benefits of tango,” says neurologist Sergio Rodriguez. “We have measured improvements in cognitive skills, motor skills, gait and balance.”
Multi-Tasking
Walking is at the heart of the Argentine tango, says specialists. But that is not the only reason why it is an effective rehabilitation method for Parkinson’s patients.
Tango also requires dancers to follow rhythms, move in a firm direction and interpret the physical signals from their dance partner.
“There are many contemporary messages that need to be solved, which is very positive for this disease,” says Garretto.
At the end of the class there is applause and “an air of satisfaction” in the room, says dance therapist Laura Segade.
“Who can, after all, remove what they have danced?”
